A WORD FROM YOUR SPONSOR

When I first started blogging, I never dreamed it would bring me fame and fortune...

Which is a good thing because it hasn't.

A bit of fame, sure - in and amongst my people and their people and even some of their people. But fortune? Erm, not so much.

But then a funny thing happened on the way to the blogosphere.....people started sending me stuff. Free stuff. Despite not making a dime on these musings of mine, I have somehow become one of those bloggers that people think people wanna know about. I love that!!! And now the marketing genies, keen to cash in on all things bloggy - ie. trusted word of mouth - have sent me freebies. Samples. Swag. Call it what you want, it's free free free!!!

HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!

Well, it was cool. Except now that they've paid the bill, I'm expected to, ahem, put out. And I can't. I'm just not that kind of girl. (Anymore.) Look, I know nothing's really free. And that when something seems too good to be true it's cuz it is. Or isn't (is too good? isn't true? Y'know what I mean). Anyhoo, I've been tracked down. The stuff's been sent. And now it's payback time.

Faced with mounting pressure to lie back and spread 'em - the word on these products, that is - I find I'm more inclined to blow is all off and hide. Except now I feel like a real tease. They took their time to treat me to their product, and yeah, I encouraged them to, so the least I could do is tell you about it, right?

Wrong. You see, trusted readers, at the end of the day, I'll only tell you about things I love. Or loathe. Anything in between, well, what's the point, right?

Remember Pom Tea? I adored it. At the time I couldn't sing its praises loud enough... Now I can't stomach the stuff.
Joe Fresh? Cheap and cheerful. And cheap - the zippers are constantly undoing and they wash like crap.
Tassimo? retired my machine the other day - too pricey and I felt like an environmental terrorist in my own home.

No one paid for this press - good or bad.

Banu? Paid full price for every meal. Every hookah. And I'll keep going back for more.
Paige Denim? A bloody fortune, but I love love love 'em. And I'll keep going back for more.
Jude Law? Didn't give me the time of day, despite bringing a hot leggy blond as my winger. And, yeah, I'll keep going back for more. (Sheesh, not even a passing glance...._

Again, think any of that was free? I WISH.

Granted, once in a while something works for me - I got these awesome Crayola crafty paints and markers and crayons that rocked down my house. Especially the crayons - triangular, easy to hold (what? my kid has fine motor issues) and even easier to clean.

And see? I told you about them. Because I wanted to. On my own terms. I don't think I need to write about something simply because someone went to town and couriered it to my house.

Am I protesting too much? Probably. I'd kill to turn a profit here in the blogosphere. Maybe I should whore myself out a little more. Maybe I should write about any - and every - sample that someone sends me. Or maybe, just maybe, I'm not being sent the right kinda things. Hear that PR people? Marketers, start your engines....and start sending me stuff I can get excited about!!

Jude Law's agent - you getting all this?

Please and thanks....