Now that spring is turning to summer across the nation, your landscaping has probably moved beyond planting and cultivating to maintaining and manicuring.  Mowing the lawn and trimming your hedges are necessary to keep your lawn, flowerbeds, and shrubs looking great throughout the season.  As always, As Seen On TV lawn and garden products can make your yard work quicker, easier, neater, and even greener.

For mowing your lawn, try the Greenworks mower.  This 3-in-1 electric mower lets you beautify your yard in an earth-friendly way by reducing your carbon footprint.  Just because the Greenworks electric mower is eco-conscious, though, does not mean it lacks power.  With a 19-inch cutting path, 40V rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and an Energy Star rated battery charger, the Greenworks mower is a great choice for those who do not want to sacrifice the environment or the power in their power tools.

Speaking of power, the Garden Groom hedge trimmer has the power to clip, shred, and collect trimmings in one compact portable trimmer.  The Garden Groom is ultra-lightweight, easy-to-handle, and features a “goof-proof” design so that anyone can get professional results.  Not only does Garden Groom clip and shred, but its vacuum vortex pulls the trimmings into the collection bin for mess-free use.  Simply empty the trimmings onto your mulch or compost pile, or dump them straight into the trash.  The Garden Groom hedge trimmer has a powerful 300-watt motor to trim easily, but also features a covered trimming blade for unmatched safety.

Whether planting or caring for your lawn or garden, infomercial products offer innovations that make any task easier.  From beautiful, hardy grasses, plants, and flowers to tools and products to make every job simpler and more convenient, the As Seen On TV garden department at Seen On TV Express has everything to make your lawn and garden stunning.  Order today to take advantage of special offers, buy one get one free pricing, and satisfaction guarantees on many of the garden products offered in our online  As Seen On TV store.

Some time ago, we at Seen On TV Express wrote about getting an early start on your lawn and landscaping by taking advantage of several As Seen On TV offers.  If you didn’t listen to us then, we have a feeling that looking at your neighbors lush green grass and vibrant flower beds is making you feel just a teeny bit inferior.  We are not going to say, “We told you so”–we are much bigger and more magnanimous than that (as you can tell by our use of the “Royal We” and really big words like “magnanimous”).  Instead, we are going to give you another chance to get your lawn in gorgeous shape that will leave your neighbors (ahem) green with envy.

QuickLawn by Gardener’s Choice is a top selling As Seen On TV grass seed for quickly growing a beautiful, resilient lawn.  Developed by scientists, Quick Lawn is designed to be a four-season, evergreen grass that starts growing in as little as one week.  This university-developed turf grass is engineered to sprout quickly, filling in bare spots and keeping your lawn green throughout the year. To use QuickLawn grass seed, simply seed your yard and water.

Benefits of QuickLawn include:

• Grows in even clay soil or sandy soil
• Withstands both sun and shade
• Resilient in heavy traffic areas
• Resistant to disease and insects
• Multiplies rapidly
• Fills in bare spots and chokes out weeds
• 2 pounds of seed covers approximately 1,000 square feet
• Velvety, evergreen lawn all year long–even in snow!

In our part of the country, we are having one of the greenest Springs in recent memory.  Often, we are plagued with drought from late spring through fall.  With red clay soil, our lawns are often brown and crunchy.  This year, the rain and mild temperatures have created a lush and lovely Spring.  In our own yard, that translated to Really Big Weeds, which, once destroyed, left Really Big Brown Spots.  Quick Lawn may just be our answer to filling in the gaps and creating a beautiful, soft lawn that can withstand the poor soil and scorching heat of our summers.

Where will you use QuickLawn?

Spring Break is here, and while the very term creates an image of tanned co-eds in bikinis and board shorts frolicking along the beach performing ridiculous alcohol-fueled stunts, the truth is that most of us are older and wiser than that.  For us, Spring Break doesn’t mean tropical frat parties . . . it means spring cleaning.

Spring cleaning is a time to complete all of those DIY projects you’ve been meaning to get around to.  It is a time to clean the things that you’ve forgotten about the rest of the year.  Opening up the windows and doing a deep cleaning can be an exhausting task, but a fresh, clean home cooled by fresh, clean breezes is worth it in the end.  Of course, As Seen On TV cleaning products can eliminate some of the hassles and some of the chemicals that have traditionally accompanied spring cleaning.  Here are some of our favorite cleaners and tools to make your spring cleaning more efficient, more effective, and more environmentally friendly.

As Seen On TV Cleaning Tools

• Monster 1200 Steam Cleaning Machine – When we’re talking about spring cleaning, we’re talking about deep cleaning.  The Monster 1200 cleans and sanitizes your home, using the power of steam rather than toxic chemicals to kill germs on all the surfaces in your home.
• Swivel Sweeper G2 - The Swivel Sweeper G2 is cordless and rechargeable, making it easier to take the G2 wherever you need it, without tripping over cords or searching for outlets.  It features a Touchless Dirt Tray to get rid of the ick-factor, and it features a Back-Saver Elbow Joint to get rid of the ouch-factor, letting you reach areas other vacuums can’t.
• Keeper Sweeper – Traditional sweeper mops are convenient, but they are not designed for every surface, and replacing their disposable pads and cloths is expensive and results in unnecessary waste that clogs landfills and harms the environment.  The Keeper Sweeper offers all of the convenience with none of the guilt.  Keeper Sweeper cloths are reversible, washable, and reusable.  It also features different pads for different surfaces, including a chenille dust pad, a scratch-free glass pad, a scrubber floor mop pad, and a terry floor mop pad.

As Seen On TV Cleaners

• Lasting Protection Antimicrobial Spray – Lasting Protection with MST does what other disinfectants can’t.  It not only kills germs throughout your home, it creates an antimicrobial barrier that protects against bacteria, mold, fungus, and mildew for more than 30 days with each use.
• Whip It Cleaner - If you are into cleaning with a conscience, Whip It cleaner is a must-have product for your spring cleaning.  Infused with eucalyptus and free from toxic chemicals, Whip It is billed as the “earth-friendly miracle cleaner.”  This multi-purpose cleaner is cruelty-free and vegan, and Whip It partners with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to combat animal testing.  Whip It is safe for kids, pets, and the environment, but tough on dirt, grime, and germs.
• George Foreman’s Everyday and More – The man whose revolutionary indoor grill spawned countless imitators now brings us a powerful, green cleaner.  George Foreman’s Everyday and More cleaner is a safe, non-toxic cleaning concentrate that can be diluted to clean virtually anything in your home.  From kitchen and bathroom counters to pet stains and laundry stains, Everyday and More delivers knockout cleaning power without toxic, harmful chemicals.  And if there is one thing George Foreman knows, it is knockout power.

These are just a few of the cleaning products featured in our As Seen On TV Cleaning Aids catalog.  From everyday cleaning to deep cleaning, Seen On TV Express has the products you need to get the job done right.

Last winter was brutal.  BRUTAL.  This winter, I was expecting more of the same, but instead, it has been remarkably mild.  Perhaps some of that unspeakable heat from the summer is still lingering, because today it is more than 70 degrees outside.  In February.  Wow.

All of this warm weather is really starting to give me Spring Fever.  Last week, we talked about ways to get your lawn ready for spring and summer with As Seen On TV garden tools and grass seed.  This week I’ll be sharing with you some new offerings we have just in time for spring planting.  We’ve recently added three new As Seen On TV plants to our catalog, and we still carry some of our infomercial favorites from previous seasons.

No matter what kind of garden you have, infomercial plants are available to make it hardier and more unique than ever before.  We have fruits, vegetables, and flowers, so whether you want to spruce up your landscaping or eat fresh, organic foods without paying a fortune at the store, you can find a plant that will add a little something extra to your garden.  Our latest As Seen On TV home and garden plants offer one each of floral, fruit, and vegetable.

• Popcorn Garden - The Popcorn Garden lets you grow delicious, organic popping corn at home.  By growing your own popcorn, you make sure that the popcorn you eat is fresh and free from chemicals, you save money over organic popcorn at the store, and you create an educational experience for kids at home.  The Popcorn Garden is an easy-to-cut coconut shell fiber growing mat pre-seeded with organic popcorn seeds.  Popcorn Garden comes with complete growing instructions, a popcorn brochure, and a 6″ pot.   With the special Popcorn Garden Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer, you’ll receive two kits for one low price.
• Strawberry Giant – Last year we brought you the Little Giant Blueberry plant that allows you to grow 16,000 blueberries from one plant.  Little Giant Blueberries are still available, but if that’s just not enough berries for you, try adding Strawberry Giant as well.  Strawberry Giant can be grown outdoors in your garden or in pots inside your home.  Strawberry Giant is cultivated to grow in as little as 60 days.  Because it can be grown indoors or outdoors, you can enjoy strawberries all year long.  Strawberry Giant also carries a Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer.
• Hummingbird Vine - Add a splash of color to your landscaping with the super resilient, easy-to-grow Hummingbird Vine.   Hummingbird Vine is a brilliant trumpet vine blooming in yellow, orange, and red.  The colorful trumpet blossoms are filled with nectar, and the vibrant colors and sweet nectar attract hummingbirds to your yard.  Hummingbird Vine grows easily even in poor soil, full sun, or shady areas.  Hummingbird Vine carries a Buy 2 Get 2 Free offer, giving you four plants for only ten dollars.

Popcorn Garden, Strawberry Giant, and Hummingbird Vine are only the latest in our As Seen On TV plant catalog.  To see a full listing of available plants, visit the SeenOnTV Express As Seen On TV garden catalog.  Get growing!

The groundhog may have predicted a long winter earlier this month, but that means that Spring is just around the corner.  Whether March comes in like a lion or a lamb, you need to have your lawn ready to grow.  As Seen On TV garden tools and grass seeds can prepare your lawn for the season ahead, giving you a beautiful lawn that your neighbors will envy.

What steps can you take to ensure you have great landscaping without breaking your back in the summer heat?

First, make sure you have a lush, green lawn that is sturdy and resistant to traffic and weather extremes.  Patch Perfect Grass Seed is, well, perfect for quickly growing sturdy grass on spots that have been left bare by heavy foot traffic, extreme shade, or blistering sun.  Each Patch Perfect seed is encapsulated with fertilizer, helping your grass grow quickly and covering barren places on your lawn.

Next, you’ll want to ensure that your entire lawn is thick and green.  Don’t just take care of bare spots; you’ll want a lush, gorgeous lawn from porch to curb.  Quick Lawn is designed to start growing hardy four-season grass in as little as seven days.  Canada Green Perfect Grass Turf grows in as little as ten days and is cultivated to be weed-resistant, insect-resistant, and resilient against both high traffic and extreme temperatures.

When your lawn is in shape, it’s time to start looking at your  flowerbeds.  Even before spring planting, there are things you can do to get your beds and bushes ready for landscaping.  Awesome Auger can be used to cut roots, dig holes for planting, aerate the soil, and more.  Use Awesome Auger before planting to destroy weeds at the root, and use it during planting to dig holes without sacrificing your back.

Finally, don’t neglect your bushes and hedges.  During the winter, your manicured hedges may lose their shape, and bushes become overgrown and scraggly.  The Garden Groom is a safe, yet powerful hedge trimmer that collects debris as it works.  You won’t have to pick up branches, leaves, and twigs after trimming your hedges, because the Garden Groom shreds and collects clippings, which can in turn be used for mulch.

It may be cold outside now, but it’s time to start thinking about warmer weather.  Enjoy curling up by the fire, because yard work will be here before you know it.  Fortunately, As Seen On TV lawn and garden products can make the job easier and will have you quickly enjoying the fruits of your labor.

As the SeenOnTV Express blogger, I’m constantly being made aware of the newest, hottest As Seen On TV products.  While some of the products don’t necessarily appeal to me, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t frequently stumble across a product that I just have to have.  As Seen On TV beauty products, kitchen products, exercise equipment, fitness videos, and comfort items all make my list.  With the holidays just around the corner, I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my favorite products–the ones I hope show up under my Christmas tree.  After all, Santa knows I’ve been very good this year.  Well–at least he knows I tried.

As Seen On TV Christmas List

• Forever Lazy – I’m not gonna lie.  This looks super cozy and comfortable.  For someone who works from home, this would be the perfect gift.  I may never wear actual clothes again.  At least until spring.
• Instyler – If I’m not mistaken, this made my list last year, but I didn’t find it in my stocking.  I think if I’m going to be spending my days in a giant, adult sized onesie, at least my hair should look good.
• Flex Seal – I know–household products shouldn’t really be on a Christmas list.  Next thing you know I’ll be asking for a blender.  But I really, really want to make a boat out of a screen door.
• Ninja Kitchen Blender – Yep.  I told you I’d be asking for a blender next.  I have a blender already.  It even has a food processing bowl.  But it is not this cool.  Not. At. All.
• Flex Mini – Seriously.  I can tone my butt without ever doing a single squat?  Sign me up.
• Any of the Beachbody videos - I don’t really like to work out, but I do really like to eat.  If I’m going to work out, I want it to be worth my time and energy.  I want it to feel like a workout, and I want results.  Beachbody workouts like P90x, Insantity, TurboFire, and Chalean Extreme are effective workouts for people who aren’t afraid to work hard to get results fast.

If I’ve been good enough this year, expect to see me in January, recovering from my Insanity workout by mixing up a healthy detox smoothie in my Ninja Kitchen Blender while wearing Forever Lazy and getting a workout boost from my Flex Mini.  And, gurrrl, my hair will look goooood.

Life Mimics Art, and As Seen On TV Exercise Products are No Exception

Strangely shaped walking shoes designed to shape and firm your derriere have recently become quite popular.  On one hand, I’m intrigued, because anything that will give me a workout without me having to, you know, work out sounds a-okay to me.  On the other hand, I think these shoes with the bulky, curved soles look flat ridiculous.  Whenever I see them, I can’t help but think of the old Seinfeld episode, “The Jimmy.”

In “The Jimmy,” George and Jerry befriend Jimmy who wears special shoes that are supposed to help him jump higher.  Somehow, Kramer ends up wearing the shoes, and yada, yada, yada . . . Mel Torme thinks he’s mentally challenged.

This is what Jimmy’s shoes look like:

As much as I think the new shape-up, toning shoes look ridiculous and make me think of Jimmy’s shoes, I found As Seen On TV exercise equipment from the 1980′s and 1990′s that out-jimmies Jimmy.

Enter the Exerlopers:

The spring-soled Exerlopers are designed to:

• Reduce shock to the joints associated with running
• Maximize your workout by adding varied motion to your running
• Increase your speed and your vertical leap with spring supported action
• Make you look like a complete fool

Exerlopers were developed in the mid-1980′s by Canadian inventor Gregory Lekhtman, and enjoyed celebrity fame in 1993 when Lekhtman’s girlfriend, then-Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell, was seen wearing Exerlopers as she exercised.

Exerlopers are still available today, and you can even adapt them for an at-home workout using Insta-Runner.  According to the Exerlopers website, Insta-Runner is a “unique collapsible running stand which provides a workout for the upper and lower body.”  The handlebars on the Insta-Runner swivel to provide upper body resistance while you run in place wearing your Exerlopers.

As Seen on TV Exercise Equipment for Multi-Taskers

The idea behind Exerlopers is sound exercise advice.  Why simply run when you can run AND jump at the same time?  Why do cardio alone when you can combine cardio and strength training in one workout?  People want maximum results in minimum time, and infomercial exercise videos and equipment that allow you to combine effective fitness routines are among the most popular As Seen On TV products available.

The Bowflex Treadclimber combines the motion of a stairclimber, a treadmill, and an elliptical trainer to amplify fat-burning cardio.  FlexShaper is designed to combine resistance training with aerobic exercise for simultaneous toning and fat burning.

Products using Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), like the FlexBelt ab belt or the FlexMini butt and thigh toner, let you discreetly work out your abs or lower body as you go about your daily business.

Of course, if modesty is not important when it comes to your As Seen On TV exercise routine (you’re not still wearing spandex pants, are you?) then Exerlopers are, er, leaps and bounds beyond discretion.

Harold Camping had his followers all set for the end of the world on May 21, 2011.  The world didn’t end, but subsequent storms in Oklahoma, Missouri, and elsewhere around the nation had many people feeling like the end was, in fact, at hand.  Severe weather, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and more seem to be devastating areas around the globe.  During tornado season, massive storms have caused record fatalities in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Joplin, Missouri.  Towns in Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Minnesota have seen great destruction from these storms.

The reason I’m writing about severe weather on an As Seen On TV blog is because two nights ago, this was the hail that fell on my home:

And last night, this is what I saw when I looked out across my back yard:

This photo was taken from the west side of the storm.  We were on the east side of it, so that tornado you see is directly between the camera man and my house–and moving toward us.  As I took my family into the storm shelter, I was convinced that my house would be rubble when we climbed out again.

Fortunately for us, the storm turned and we were spared.  Others were not so lucky:

As my family and I huddled in our storm shelter, I wondered if our home would collapse on top of the shelter.  I wondered if we’d be able to climb out from under the debris ourselves, or if we’d have to wait for rescuers to free us.  Suddenly, the sippy cup of milk and baggie of snacks I’d brought down for our young son seemed grossly insufficient.

We are grateful that it was a non-issue for our family, but it did get me thinking a lot about emergency preparedness.  There are actually several As Seen On TV products that can help you and your family stay safe in an emergency.

Most notable is the 72 Hour Emergency Kit.  The 72 Hour Kit is designed to keep you fed, hydrated, and warm in the first 72 hours following an emergency.  Each kit contains enough food and water to sustain one person for 72 hours or until emergency personnel arrive:

• 6 (4.2 oz) Mylar water pouches
• 2400 calorie food bar
• 36-piece first aid kit
• Emergency blanket
• 5-in-1 survival aid tool
  • Compass
  • Signal whistle
  • Signal mirror
  • Waterproof match box
  • Flint firestart
• Waterproof matches
• Light stick

Another thing I was wishing for in our dark shelter was light.  We had a small battery powered lantern and a couple of flashlights, but it was still fairly dark.  Of course, when we emerged, our power was out, and we could have used some light then, too.  While not specifically designed for emergency use, the Hug Light, Widget Light, and Hex Light are all created for hands-free use, which could come in handy in a difficult situation.

Seeing a massive storm coming your way gives a feeling of incredible hopelessness.  Take every precaution available to protect yourself and your family.

To the victims of this spring’s devastating storms, our hearts are with you.

As Seen on TV Best Sellers

Infomercial products are designed to fill a need, solve a problem, minimize an annoyance.  The inventors of these As Seen on TV product innovations have an uncanny ability to find television viewers’ biggest pet peeves and market a solution.  Describing the invention of the Snuggie, one infomercial product review website noted,  “One day a guy put on his robe backwards and said, ‘I want a Porsche.’”  With over 20 million Snuggies sold in 2009 alone . . . well, that’s a lot of Porsches.

When an infomercial hits big, it REALLY hits big.  According to several sources, the television infomercial business, or Direct Response Television (DRTV) marketing, is a $300 billion dollar industry.  Forbes.com cites Remy Stern, author of But Wait . . . There’s More, in saying that the direct response marketing industry is “larger than the film, music and video game industries combined.”  So in an arena filled with failed ideas, which As Seen on TV products are generating the most revenue?

Top Ten Infomercial Products and As Seen on TV Products

A Forbes.com article released by ABC News reveals the ten most successful television infomercial products as determined by California-based research firm Jordan Whitney.  This list is based on sales figures from Nov. 2009 to Nov. 2010:

1. Bowflex Home Gym
2. Carleton Sheets Real Estate Tutorial
3. Proactiv Solution Acne Treatment
4. Ronco Showtime Rotisserie Pro Electric Rotisserie Oven
5. Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Air Purifier
6. The Firm Bodybuilding Fitness Videos
7. Walk Away the Pounds for Abs Weight Loss System
8. Gazelle Freestyle Home Exercise Equipment
9. Total Gym Challenge Home Gym
10. Foodsaver Food Vacuum Packaging Machine

Though this list provides the most successful products for last year, the As Seen on TV best sellers are constantly evolving.  In fact, infomercial researchers at Jordan Whitney also list weekly top sellers.  Last week’s best selling As Seen on TV products included mostly fitness and personal care products:

1. P90X
2. Insanity
3. No!No! Hair
4. Six Week Body Makeover
5. Turbo Fire
6. Zumba
7. Genie Bra
8. Wen Hair Care
9. Cindy Crawford’s Meaningful Beauty
10. Sensa Weight Loss System

Hm.  That list looks suspiciously like the As Seen on TV products in our Spring Fever Series.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been spotlighting ways to get a prepare for the warmer weather by getting a Springalicious body (it’s a word–feel free to use it).  As women all across America are primping and pruning themselves to bare golden shoulders and smooth, tanned legs, men across our nation are drooling with anticipation.  But as their wives and their neighbors wives and that cute divorcee that just moved in down the street are prepping for swimsuit season, these men have a different type of lust on their minds–lawn lust.

For verily, the unwritten commandment, “Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor’s Landscaping,” is being broken in households across the land.  But, lo I say unto you, fear not!  Infomercial lawn care products shall rescue you from the abyss of brown grass, patchy turf, and pernicious weeds, which are an abomination unto thy Homeowners’ Association.

There was a time when having the nicest lawn on the block required heavy, backbreaking labor and the vigilant use of a reel mower, which is, inexplicably making a comeback as a “green” alternative to finishing the yard work sometime before you die of heat stroke.

Lawn care evolution made things both easier and more difficult for Weekend Warriors in their attempt to out-green each other’s landscaping.

Notable Innovation #1:  The Riding Lawn Mower

Notable Innovation #2:  Chemical Lawn Care Services

All of the things that simplified lawn cultivation and made neighborhood yards more lush and lovely, also meant you had to work harder to keep up with Mister-I-Win-the-HOA-Beautiful-Yard-Contest-Every-Year.

Luckily, you no longer have to don a Toreador hat to get “grass with class” or hire a toothy guy wielding a chemically enhanced pogo stick to get the lawn of your dreams.

Infomercial lawn care products include not only tools to maintain a lawn, but also the necessary ingredients to get your lawn started:

• Quick Lawn promises year-round grass that is resistant to weeds, pests, and diseases, and which starts to grow in as little as one week.
• Canada Green Perfect Turf Grass is designed to be resilient, withstanding extreme temperatures ranging from -40 degrees to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Patch Perfect bills itself as “like grass seed on steroids” with each seed encased in fertilizer to promote quick, hardy growth in bare patches, shade, and other areas where typical grass struggles to grow.

As seen on TV grass seed, turf patches, and fertilizers can give you a beautiful, weed-free yard that will be the envy of your neighbors–and might induce their Springalicious wives to show up at your next barbecue baring–er, bearing potato salad and brownies.