Autumn is winding down, and winter is beginning to breathe its frosty air down our necks. For many people, portable space heaters are an easy method to stay warm while attempting to lower utility costs. Unfortunately, many electric space heaters pose a burn risk or fire hazard. According to the  United States Fire Administration (USFA), approximately 900 portable heater fires occur annually in the United States. Portable heater fires comprise only two percent of residential fires, but they are particularly deadly, accounting for one quarter of fatal residential fires.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the agency charged with monitoring the safety of the products we purchase and with issuing consumer warnings and recalls of dangerous and defective products. While thousands of portable electric heaters have been recalled by their manufacturers this year, As Seen On TV heaters including the iHeater, Heat Surge Amish Electric Fireplace, and Seasonaire Heater and Air Purification System have not been subject to recall.  These portable heaters include safety features which may reduce the risk of burns. For example, all three heaters are designed to generate heat while remaining cool to the touch. Heat Surge uses Hybrid-Thermic heat technology and features a patent-pending Cool Touch Heat Vent. The iHeater and Seasonaire both use infrared technology to evenly distribute heat while remaining safe to the touch.

Regardless of which portable heater you use to stay warm while reducing your energy costs, reduce your risk of injury by following these CPSC heater safety tips:

• Never operate a heater you suspect may be damaged.
• Visit the CPSC website to check for recall information before operating your heater.
• Never leave a heater unattended.
• Never operate a portable heater while sleeping.
• Keep flammable and combustible materia;–including paper, clothing, sheets and bedding, curtains, and sofas–at least three feet from the heater’s front, rear, and sides.
• Be sure the heater’s plug fits tightly and securely in the wall outlet.
• Do not use a heater with a power strip or an extension cord.
• Only use a heater on a flat, stable surface to reduce the risk of tipping over.
• When purchasing a heater, check for an OSHA safety certification mark.
• Keep electric heaters away from water, and never touch a heater when you are wet.

To find an energy-efficient, cool-touch portable heater for your home or office, click here to browse our catalog of As Seen On TV products.

Ah, Thanksgiving.  A time of year to enjoy time with our families and to express gratitude for all of our blessings.  For most of us, that also means indulging in huge, home-cooked meals.  Unfortunately for some of us, our dreams of plump, moist turkey are shattered, and we must consume overcooked, dried turkey-jerky a la Clark Griswold instead.

(Note:  I wanted to include the clip of the holiday dinner scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but I fear it would be a violation of copyright law.  Fortunately, fearless scofflaws have posted the video here for your viewing pleasure.)

Poor Clark.  At least his over-dry turkey was not a fire hazard.  Please note these videos of people who failed to heed our warnings last year, and who tried to cook Thanksgiving dinner without the safety and convenience of a Butterball Indoor Electric Turkey Fryer.

Exhibit A:  Oven Roasted Turkey Flambe

Exhibit B:  Archimedes Meets Turkey Frying

Lest you think these are isolated incidents, just head over to YouTube and search “exploding turkey” or “turkey fryer fire.”  Apparently, these incidents are so common that there are even public service announcements and fire department demonstrations to warn people about such fire hazards.

Two leading insurers have even based commercials around the catastrophe that is Holiday Cooking.  Allstate notes, “Trouble never takes a holiday,” with its smooth-voiced baritone spokesman standing by a turkey fryer.  State Farm went all out, hiring THE William Shatner to demonstrate proper turkey frying techniques:

Even AT&T was on the exploding turkey bandwagon with this commercial:

Seriously.  Are you getting the message yet?  Cooking is DANGEROUS.  Cooking turkey for Thanksgiving can threaten your life, your home, and your eyebrows.  If you can’t rely on an expert to cook your dinner for you, rely on a product designed by experts.  Check out innovative As Seen On TV kitchen products like the Butterball turkey fryer.  Click here to see the extensive collection in our SeenOnTV Express catalog.

At this time of year, millions of American children head back to school, and millions of moms heave a collective sigh of relief.  However, while many parents are enjoying the cessation of the droning, “But, Mom, I’m bored,” others cringe as their children’s sighs of boredom are replaced by cries of frustration.  While the back-to-school season can be a time of excitement and anticipation for many, it is a time of anxiety for many children who struggle in school and for parents who want to ensure the best education possible for their children.  For parents looking to give their students an edge, As Seen On TV educational resources have provided a convenient means of enhancing reading, math, and study skills among children from preschool through college.  One of the most enduring educational products sold on television is Hooked On Phonics.

It is hard to believe that a quarter of a century has passed since American families first heard the familiar catchphrase, “Hooked On Phonics worked for me!”   Designed by a father struggling to help his son overcome reading problems, the Hooked On Phonics learning system was introduced to consumers in 1987, and since that time, the system has continued to grow and evolve.  Originally a simple, yet effective, learn-to-read system, Hooked on Phonics now encompasses new and varied media and technologies to teach reading and other subjects, relying on books, flash cards, computer games, and music to engage learners.

Through partnerships with educational agencies such as KinderCare Learning Centers and Educate, Inc./Sylvan Learning, Hooked On Phonics developed programs for study skills success and other subjects in addition to reading:  Hooked On Spanish, Hooked On Spelling, Hooked On Handwriting, and others.

Recently, Hooked On Phonics re-vamped its flagship Learn to Read program to include more interactive technologies and new materials.  Through SeenOnTVExpress.com, you can take advantage of a thirty-day trial of the Hooked On Phonics Learn to Read system, which includes:

•  8 DVDs to introduce letters, sounds and combinations
• 8 workbooks to reinforce and practice the skills introduced in the DVDs
• 36  illustrated storybooks for independent reading practice
• Online interactive tools for practice through games and printable worksheets.
• Quick Start Guide
• The Advanced Reading Level for further skill development
•  Bonus Sing-along CD with original music
• Bonus DVD with animation, stories, and dance

Research has continually demonstrated that children who are successful in school are more likely to enjoy school and learning.  As your child heads back to school, help him or her to get hooked on learning with Hooked On Phonics.

The Tapout XT extreme home fitness program has become the latest among As Seen On TV exercise videos and equipment to be endorsed by mixed martial artists and MMA champions.  Products such as Tower 200, Jack Rack,  Rip:60, and Muscle Warfare have been endorsed by top MMA fighters including Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre, and Travis Limaure, respectively.  With the continued popularity of MMA, it is no surprise that celebrity endorsements from these athletes are among the hottest ways to sell As Seen On TV fitness equipment.

After all, athletes have been demonstrating the effectiveness of various workout programs, exercise equipment, and bodybuilding supplements for years.  If you want an athletic build, who better to ask than an admired and skilled athlete?  Finding an athlete or a sport whose popularity is at a peak is key to an effective endorsement.  For example, NFL defensive tackle Lyle Alzado demonstrated the effectiveness of weight training in his War with Weights program in 1984, only a year after helping to lead the L.A. Raiders to a Super Bowl victory:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9bPLaE5dE8

Though it would probably be difficult today to promote milk-jug-lifting as an effective workout, the point remains that athletes at the peak of their game are often the best candidates for endorsing any product associated with health, wellness, and fitness.  Tapout has made a name for itself as one of the top supporters of MMA athletes, and Tapout gear can be seen on both fighters and fans.  With the release of Tapout XT, the company embraces not only the popularity of MMA, but also the public demand for extreme, high-intensity workouts brought about by programs such as P90X.

Tapout XT includes twelve MMA-inspired workouts designed to get you hard-core results in as little as ninety days:

• Strength & Force
• Plyo XT
• Cross Core Combat
• Competition Core
• Buns & Guns XT
• Yoga XT
• Sprawl and Brawl
• Muay Thai
• Ripped Conditioning
• Ultimate Abs XT
• Cardio XT
• Legs & Back

The program also includes resistance bands, nutrition guide, 10-day slimdown plan, bonus training and abs DVDs, and other essentials to help you get a lean, sculpted fighter’s physique.

With the Olympics in full swing, look out for a surge in product endorsements by Olympic champions and gold medalists lending their fame to everything from cereal to cell phones.  Traditional advertising wisdom holds that “sex sells,” but with our athlete-obsessed culture, it is fair to say that sports sell, too.

On the Fourth of July, the citizens of the United States of America celebrate Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  Though many people celebrate with bottle rockets and barbecues, virtually every American takes at least a moment to reflect on the strength of our nation and to honor the sacrifices of those who work to make our country great.

For many of us, a sense of pride in our country is not something that should be exhibited only once each year.  During a time when American values are under attack and our nation is often divided by partisan politics, it is important to show a sense of unity and support for our country.  This election year, you are able to show support for our country despite divisive politics with We Are We the People apparel.

We Are We the People t-shirts, visors, and hats are nonpartisan American apparel commemorating the United States Constitution–the document that details the rights and liberties of the American people.  Available in patriotic red, white, and blue, the shirts and hats reflect the first words of the Constitution, “We the people,” indicating the power of democracy.

We Are We the People American apparel does more than just show your pride in the United States of America; it helps support those who have sacrificed to protect our liberties and our ideals.  A portion of each sale goes to The Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that helps wounded soldiers and their families after they return from conflict.

This Independence Day, SeenOnTV Express encourages you to celebrate responsibly and to remember the reason for our celebration.  Happy Fourth of July!

If you have been reading the SeenOnTVExpress blog for any length of time, you know I’m not above a little snark when a particular product strikes me as frivolous, silly, outdated, or just plain weird.  However, I recently stumbled across another As Seen On TV blog that was ridiculing a new product that, well, frankly, I think is genius.  It is clear that the writer of the other blog does not have any small children in his or her home, or instead of sniping about the product, he/she would be ordering that puppy NOW.

The product in question is the Dog Dicer, and I think it ranks right up there in brilliance with the Disney Gyro Bowl–you know, the bowl that will not spill no matter how amped up your kid may be on Pop Rocks or Mountain Dew or whatever else grandma has been letting them have against your specific instructions.  The Dog Dicer is a product that slices and halves a hot dog in one motion, like so:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67FZKukJ6v4

Now, being well-versed in sarcasm and cynicism myself, I get the comments of the Clearly-Not-A-Parent-Blogger.  Like, using a knife is soooo hard, right?  I believe I may have even used that same line of logic on another hot dog-related product, myself (remember the Happy Hot Dog Man?).  But here’s why the Dog Dicer is different and far above my usual snide comments:  it saves time and makes safety almost idiot-proof.

As silly as it may sound to non-parental types, hot dogs are the leading cause of choking among kids.  Pediatricians warn parent to cut up hot dogs to prevent choking, because the hot dog is the same circumference as a young child’s esophagus.  There has even been proposed legislation to require changing the shape of hot dogs to prevent choking, because these windpipe-shaped sausages are practically the perfect storm of asphyxiation.  However, far too often, I have seen well-meaning parents slice their kids’ hot dogs–leaving them with smaller pieces that are still the exact same circumference and shape as the whole hot dog.  Hot dogs are supposed to be halved lengthwise prior to slicing to prevent choking.  The Dog Dicer slices lengthwise and crosswise in one motion, ensuring that the hot dog is sliced into safely-shaped pieces.

Now, a knife is perfectly suited to the task, but it takes some time.  When you’ve got a hungry and potentially cranky toddler waiting on a hot dog, everybody is happier if you get it to the table as quickly as possible.  Plus, one thing any mom could use more of is time.

I’m not sure I would have rushed right out and bought a Dog Dicer, but when they showed it quartering grapes?  Sold.  Have you ever had to quarter grapes for a toddler?  Those little suckers roll all over the place, and it takes forever.  I nearly swooned with desire when I saw that lady line up ten or so grapes, press a lever, and gloriously reveal safely chopped grapes.  Over the course of two to three years of lunches and snacks, can you imagine how much time you’d save on grapes alone?  It’s magnificent, I tell you.

I guess the moral of my story is that As Seen On TV products are generally creative ways of problem solving.  Even if a product may seem silly to you, Mr. Bachelor Infomercial Blogger, for someone out there, it is the perfect solution.*

*This in no way means I’m going to stop being snarky.  I like to make rules that apply to other people–not to myself.

In the past, when the SeenOnTV Express blog has described an As Seen On TV product on our “Way Back Wednesday” feature, the tone of the article has frequently been a bit snarky.  I mean, let’s face it–some of those early ’80s infomercials  we originally featured were a bit ridiculous.  Today, however, I would like to pay homage to an earlier product that launched a new way to clean:  The Steam Buggy.  One of  the first products offered in our As Seen On TV catalog, the Steam Buggy was a portable steam cleaner that allowed users to clean and sanitize hard-to-clean areas throughout their homes.  It was one of the first products to bring the professional power of steam cleaning right into your home, and since its introduction, steam mops and other steam cleaners have become common ways to powerfully and effectively clean floors, kitchens, bathrooms, and more.

So what is it that has brought about my new-found admiration for steam cleaning?  Having a three-and-a-half-year-old dinner companion leaves my kitchen floor in need of a Hazmat crew after every meal.  Ever since we introduced solid food roughly three years ago, we have been sweeping, wiping, mopping, and chiseling food from our lovely cream-colored tile.  Dealing with the kitchen floor seems as unending and relentless as laundry.  I would sooner try to sweep the sand from the Sahara as attempt to maintain a clean kitchen floor.

We currently have four rotating methods for cleaning our kitchen floor:

• Fastidiously wipe up any spills, vacuum any messes, and sweep or mop the offending area after each meal.
• Give the kitchen floor a quick clean-up at the end of each day.
• Clean up the big, gross spots ASAP, but save the mopping for a weekly chore.
• Ignore it and hope the Mop Fairy makes a surprise visit before the grime on the floor petrifies and becomes a permanent pattern on the tile.

None of these methods are particularly effective for our family.  The first takes too much time.  The second is also pretty time consuming and also doesn’t get the floor as clean as I would like.  The third leaves me cringing every time I walk through the kitchen until Mop Day.  And the fourth?  Well, that’s just gross, and apparently, the Mop Fairy is on strike.

Because none of our floor cleaning methods are able to sufficiently battle a preschooler at mealtime, I’ve been looking for a quick and easy way to really, thoroughly clean the floor without spending too much time behind a broomstick.  I have really been considering a steam cleaner to power away the stuck-on foods and to sanitize the floors–particularly since we will be adding another little mealtime terror to the mix in just a few months, one who will be crawling on the very floors in question.

Though the Steam Buggy served its purpose, I’m looking for something a little more conducive to cleaning an entire floor.  Today’s As Seen On TV steam mops seem to fit the bill.  Two products in particular have caught my eye:  the One Touch Steam Tornado and the Shark Professional Steam Pocket Mop.  Both of these steam cleaners are lightweight and feature an upright design.  The Shark Pro Steamer has the look of typical sweeper mops, but provides three levels of steam control, reusable cleaning cloths, shaped cleaning heads, and a carpet glider head for carpet cleaning.  The One Touch Steam Tornado can be used as an upright or handheld device for cleaning virtually anywhere and also features washable, reusable microfiber cleaning pads.

Finally, getting steamed over our kitchen floors is a good thing.

Two events converged to inspire today’s post about amazing, drool-worthy abs and how to get them.

The first event?  The upcoming release of Magic Mike, featuring Matthew McConaughey, Channing Tatum, Joe Manganiello, Alex Pettyfer and Matt Bomer . . . shirtless:

Sweet fancy Moses. Someone get mama a fan.

The second event was the arrival of this little gem in my email inbox:

Oh, honey, no.

After thoroughly rinsing my eyes with battery acid to clear the second image from my retinas, I did a little research and determined that the Ab-hancer is not, in fact, a real As Seen On TV product, but rather a spoof.  Even though it is a fake, the idea of trying to look like you have great abs without actually working for great abs is nothing new.  I have even heard of using sunless tanning lotion to create “shadows” that give the illusion of six-pack abs on an otherwise toneless belly.  Unfortunately, not everyone is going to have abs like Matthew McConaughey and Channing Tatum–seriously, it is unfortunate.   While some people have the dedication and stamina to work hard to get those gleaming, chiseled, glorious abs (I’m sorry–did I get carried away?), not everyone has the time or the desire to put in that kind of effort.

Because I want every man to have the opportunity to look like Magic Mike–oh, believe me, I do–today’s Seen On TV Express blog post is going to bring you three different types of As Seen On TV ab sculpting products.  You select your level of intensity from zero to P90X and choose the infomercial product that best works for you.

Intensity Level:  ”Can someone bring me a doughnut and a beer?”

• Slim T
• IAS Instaslim Garments

Instaslim and Slim Ts are body shaping garments that can make  you look up to two sizes smaller without diet or exercise.  While the results are temporary, and you certainly can’t whip off your shirt, wave it around your head, and slide down a fireman pole into the waiting arms of hundreds of screaming women vying for the opportunity to tuck dollar bills in your waistband, Slim T or Instaslim can give you the confidence that comes from looking better in your clothes.

Intensity Level:  Not Quite Shocking

• Flex Belt
• Contour Abs
• Sport Elec Ab Belt

Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) is FDA-cleared and shown to be effective in helping to strengthen and build muscles without a lot of concerted effort on your part.  Electronic ab belts work by contracting the abdominal muscles through electronic impulses, allowing your to flex and contract each muscle numerous times in a single session.  Some of these devices are discreet enough to wear under clothing so you can firm and tighten your abdominals as you go about your daily routine.

Intensity Level:  ”Work All Day.  Work It All Night.”

• Ab Rocket Twister
• Ab Glider
• Insanity
• P90X
• P90X2

If you want the moves like Jagger . . . or in this case, like Magic Mike and his glistening, sculpted cohorts . . . you are going to have to work it.  Intense fat burning moves and a clean diet are critical in creating a lean, chiseled core featuring rock hard abs.  Abdominal exercise equipment like the AbRocket and the Ab Glider can give you targeted moves for tightening the abs, but the aggressive, high-intensity training available from Beachbody’s Insanity, P90X, and P90X2 allow for total body fat burning and muscle sculpting that can transform your physique.

Whether you want to show up at your reunion with the confidence that comes from looking better in your clothes, or whether you want to show up with a physique that makes your class homecoming queen fall over in a dead faint, As Seen On TV products offer your perfect ab solution.

Remember when you were a kid, and your favorite stuffed animal was just that–a stuffed animal? And chances are, it was a bear.  Maybe, just maybe, if your parents were particularly creative and looked really hard to find something special, you may have had a puppy, kitten, or monkey. Well, let me just tell you:  your childhood was lame.

The modern era is all about multitasking.  With all of the many roles and responsibilities we take on, we need tools to maximize our time and make things easier.  No longer do we have a TV and a separate VCR.  Nope–we can record directly from the TV with a TiVo or DVR.  We can play video games and even watch movies from our gaming systems.  We no longer have phones and cell phones.  We have mobile devices that can be used for talk, text, photography, video, internet browsing, and more.  We have things to do, and we need them done quickly.  All-in-one devices and tools save today’s multitasker both time and money.

Just like their multitasking parents, kids today want toys that do more.  Hand Junior your beloved but ratty stuffed bear from 1979, and he is liable to ask you, “But what does it do?”  Poor Teddy McStuffins will be cast aside while your precocious Junior scampers off in search of toys that do something.

As Seen On TV toys have heeded the call of today’s complex, busy child.  Perhaps the trend began with Pillow Pets.  Sing with me now, “It’s a pillow.  It’s a pet.  It’s a Pillow Pet!”  The Pillow Pet solved an interesting problem for the busy child and parent who do not have time for clutter.  The Pillow Pet is a stuffed animal that converts to a plush pillow.  Unlike the limited stuffed offerings of your pitiful, unitasking childhood, Pillow Pets are available in a wide variety of shapes, including farm animals, zoo animals, sea creatures, sports mascots, and even licensed Disney characters.

The success of Pillow Pets has been so sensational that other infomercial toy makers are seeing the need for stuffed animals that do more.  Other 2-in-1 plush toys launched in the wake of the Pillow Pet phenomenon include:

• Happy Nappers:  2-in-1 stuffed animal and pillow; differs from Pillow Pets in that the pillowcase is actually a “home” for the animal
• Pawggles:  2-in-1 stuffed animal and slippers
• BlanKid Buddy:  4-in-1 stuffed animal, blanket, pillow, and backpack
• Cuddleuppets:  2-in-1 blanket and puppet
• Bottle Cuddler:  2-in-1 stuffed animal and bottle cover

These multitasking As Seen On TV stuffed animals allow you to do more with less, which is the goal of any multi-purpose product.  Relegate Teddy McStuffins to a place of nostalgia and get your kids a toy that does more.  After all, you don’t want some future blogger telling your kids how lame their childhood was,  now do you?

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.