Mar
17
A Note From Mary
We are aware that someone claiming to represent HGTV has been posting on this blog. Please disregard his posts: This person is not affiliated with Scripps Networks and his posts have been removed.
We are aware that someone claiming to represent HGTV has been posting on this blog. Please disregard his posts: This person is not affiliated with Scripps Networks and his posts have been removed.
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That you very much Mary. Most of us felt that (Justin) wasn't affliated with HGTV.
I wonder how they know it’s a male?
Thanks Mary.
Congratulations to the winner! What a nice couple. I wish them all the best.
G. Very perceptive.
Okay, since this says that my comment is waiting moderation, let me try this again. Thank you very much, Mary. Most of us (regularers) knew that he wasn’t affliated with HGTV. Happy dreaming on the Green House site, everyone.
Thanks Mary. Glad to see that you all are on top on this.
Love HGTV I can’t wait to enter in the 2009 sweepstakes.. Mary you are so sweet.. Keep up the good work sorry to see you go
Thanks Mary for removing those false blogs.I was certain that the guy did not represent HGTV. But really…do we really know what anyone is saying is,in fact,truthful? I’m a confirmed optimist though,and I am certain that all the “Ledson Ladies” were 100% truthful,honest and sincere.Am I correct Lovelykitty,Bonnie,Brenda,Jenny D,and JandVs Mom??? Is there really going to be a SISBP? Ingrid from Sonoma
There IS definitely going to be a SISBP. Despite all the hoopla, it looks as if it may just be a small group.
Lovelykitty suggests doing something on the Saturday that the winners come to the house. I don’t know if they would want to be involved or even if they know anything about the SISBP. I am excited for the Smiths and would like them to know that we congratulate them but I definitely do not wish to invade their privacy.
What say you: Ingrid, Lovelykitty, Bonnie B, Jenny D, JandVsMom, Lessie, Katydid and Bonnie? Also, for some reason, Lovelykitty feels that she has been banned from HGTV for sharing so much information — I hope that is not true and that it was just a computer glitch. Most of us have a way to reach the others through private e-mail, so we may have to plan that way.
Ok, bloggers are there any of you who really would attend a SISBP (Sippin’ in Sonoma Bloggers Party)?
WOW!! A lot has happened while I was away! I have to admit my envelope directing HGTV to the hotel where I was staying was still pinned to my door when I got home…such a sad indication that HGTV never showed up to my door, and the DH2009 had already been given away! CONGRATULATIONS TO CHERYL SMITH!! You are a lucky winner, and a lucky grandma! One thing I loved about this lady is the way she spoke of her family, especially her grandchildren!!
GOOD MORNING to Katydid, Kat, DBCoop, Bonnie, Mary, Gail, Brenda, Lovelykitty, JandVsmom, Jenny D, Bonnie B, Ingrid & Bobo, Rhonda Priest, Brenda, 2Cherubs, 4dewdrops, Deryck, Chip, Tamara, Victoria, Illinois Nancy, Nancy Leahy, Katherine, Esla Sinclair, Cynthia Newland, Nancy Donahue, lifeisgoodatgrandmas, Claudia, Diana Bianculli, Brenda Loo, JenniferD, New Jersey Gal, Lessie, Lily-Beth Reilly, Shelley, MsPatti, Nicole, Jennifer, dreamn09, Cali-Lover, collegemom, Laila, Linda, Jerry, Audra M, Adina, Cheryl in Central California Kimberly, Terri, Elizabeth, Kristy, Terri, Michelle, Lindalou, Daddysdarlin, Brandy, Fran from lala land, Jacqueline and Catmagic…we all share the same disappointment that not one of us won the gorgeous home in Sonoma, BUT it is now time to set new horizons…we have much work to do…entering the contest for the GREEN HOME in FLORIDA!! So, you see, our DREAMING does not end!! We have much to look forward to, and the blueprints for the next dream home is being printed as we speak…YES!! For me, since my family lives in Sonoma, there will never be another more suitable DREAM HOME, but it does not mean that I will stop DREAMING of WINNING another one!!
THANK YOU TO HGTV FOR GIVING ALL OF US MUCH TO BE GREATFUL FOR!! AND, A REALLY SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO GAIL…OUR BEAUTIFUL, WITTY & ALL SO CHARMING SUPER FAN!!
And, yes….I will be blogging on the GREEN HOUSE site…most will have already read some of my posts!!
Thought I was banned from here.
Yes Ingrid, there will be. We are working on the date now, but it may be April 18th.
Hi Ingrid & BoBo, I finally heard from JennyD, she’s alive and well! I need to communicate with her and the others, but we still want to put a party together. We wish we knew if the new winners were interested in being involved with it first. HGTV, Gail, can you help us out here? I hope there is still interest in attending. I haven’t seen any messages other than yours expressing interest in the party happening. When we pick a date we’ll probably ask for RSVPs so we can get an idea of interest.
Thanks Mary….most of us that have blogged for a while knew there was something fishy about it and didn’t take it seriously…I’m sure…..Glad, though, that HGTV responded so you could put this to rest. Some people….REALLY!!
You know Nancy you are right about that.. I really do wish I could see a young couple win who really could use a house and a car.. hmmm but it is like the lotto you never know who is really going to win…
It would have been nice to see a young family win this year’s Dream Home. Really…yet again another old couple who already own a home.
Nancy – A “young” family won last year.
I do think the family that won last year are young, they have two little daughters… the Dee family…so young families do win, not just retired couples
I THINK THAT THE WINNERS SHOULD ONLY BE PEOPLE THAT DONT OWN A HOME OR PROPERTY BECAUSE PEOPLE WHOM ALREADY OWN HOUSE WILL MOST LIKELY JUST TURN AROUND AND SELL THE HOUSE….I DOESNT REALLY CHANGE THEIR LIVES BUT IMMAGEN IF THE WINNER DIDNT WON THEIR OWN HOME THEIR LIVES WOULD CHANGE SO MUCH
This is my 3rd year of participating in the HGTV Dream Home sweepstakes. So I guess my guage of the “ambush” is minimal, but I’m gonna throw my 2-cents in, anyway. :0)
This years TV special of the DH winner was awesome. At 30-minutes, it was just enough time, and didn’t go on and on endlessly, just to fill the time. In stark contrast to last year’s Florida DH, in my opinion, this years gave the appearance that it was truly a “suprise ambush”. It just seemed more real. I just want to say “Good Job HGTV” for this years DH TV special.
When will we hear of the location for DH 2010?
It wasn’t me….or was it?
Good afternoon everyone.
Thank you Marie for the shout out.
Thank you Bonnie for telling us Jenny D. is well. Good to hear from all of you. I hope you all will follow Marie and I to the green home site too. I sure hope your party is a success. Believe me if it were at all possible for me to attend I would be there. I too hope that the Smiths will be able to attend. Won’t it be fun for all of you to spend some time with Gail. She sure is one busy lady! I did not see the comments from that imposter. I am glad that I did not. I hope the negativity has gone away. We have such a wonderful site. Thank you HGTV. Thank you Mary and thank you Gail.
Has anyone heard from Coop? Still looking forward to some pictures of his new home in Thailand. Have a wonderful evening evryone.
Take care and God bless. Let us all still remember to dream, dreams are free.
Cynthia Newland
Lol.
See Marie. The typos haven’t let up.
Cynthia Newland
I would LOVE to attend the SISBP! Keep us posted.
Ahh, Nancy: That “old couple” have grown children and grandchildren, that I’m sure,when they visit, will fill that home with youthful happiness. I suspect they have “paid their dues” to own a home. Once they were young, like you, and maybe rented until they could save up enough for a “starter home”. Hang in there, and maybe in umpteen years, you will be old enough to win a Dream Home too.
Wishing the very best for you!
Hi, Bonnie B. Lovelykitty and I have also expressed interest in still having the SISBP. You must not have seen our earlier posts, even under this blog earlier today.
Marie Miller: You said “blueprints for the next Dream Home are being printed as we speak”. How exciting! Don’t even know the location of the 2010 Dream Home, but I love viewing the floor plans. Speaking of floor plans, I love the Green Home’s. See you on that blog.
Lovelykitty: I don’t think HGTV would ever ban you, but might want to hire you instead. Boy, if I had a business, I’d send my head-hunters out to contact you ASAP.
Brenda: Thank you so much for including me in the SISBP planning, Unfortunately, as I said on a previous blog I live way too far away to attend. But I love reading about the planning, and know when the event happens, I will be with you in spirit. I will love to hear all about it and PICTURES, if possible.
Cheryl Smith is one lucky person, and even if she doesn’t keep the home she will be able to see it in person and meet all you wonderful people. Woof to BoBo and pleasant dreams everyone.
Hmmm, my comments keep gettinig deleted. I’ll try again.
Last year’s winner of the DH was young. I think this year’s winner is “young” at heart. I’ve entered all 13 Dream Homes and the winners have been all different ages.
It’s just a random drawng.
Oh Nancy!!!!!
Old or young, somebody has to win. I can imagine it is hard to uproot yourself and get jobs where you are moving to just like that when you are young. Older people are more settled, smarter about life and know how to manipulate their finances better. I am very happy for the Smith’s. She said she could never sfforded the Arcadia on her own. That says a lot about her money savey. She is humble and seem to deserve the best has to offer her. Be smart in deciding whats best for you and your family Mrs. Smith.
Thank you for clearing that up for me a non-regular here. I was very bummed about the comments I saw. Thanks!
I bet Grandma didn’t think about moving across country away from her family. I know my wife and babies did. See you next year HGTV, Thanks!!!Jason Columbia,SC
Good Morning all my blogger friends
Congrats to Cheryl Smith and her family (SHE Seems to be a very Nice person and the lord saw fit to bless her at this phase in her life)
There was a time when…
My life was so simple.
I made the rules as I went along
And my worries were few.
I have learned many lessons.
Some mistakes can be corrected
Some can only be forgiven.
To just exist from day to day is basic survival.
To really live and seize life
Is the greatest gift you give to yourself and to others.
Your strengths and weaknesses will be constantly tested.
The tests you give yourself are the hardest
Yet you will feel the most rewarded in passing.
Compassion and a sense of fairness should govern your life.
Without either quality, you cannot grow
Either in mind or in spirit.
My life is no longer simple.
There is much that I still have to learn,
Regardless of the rules.
I am still in the game
lifeisgoodatgrandmas: Good morning! Nice poem to wake up to…thank you very much..it is beautiful!! I especially like the phrase “To really live and seize life
is the greatest gift you give to yourself and to others!”
Hi Katydid: The comment about the blueprints was a “figure of speech”, but I am sure that HGTV has a place picked out already & the type of house they are going to build next! Their wheels just keep on turning!! I really had you in prayers for this year’s home…if I didn’t win, I definitely wanted you..’cause you have so much on your plate & never complain..I love your tenacity!! Have a GREAT day Katy!!!!!
To the Special SISBP Planners….I would LOVE to attend the SISBP!
FOR THOSE BLOGGERS WHO WANT TO KEEP IN TOUCH—- this is a “Pasted older blog” with the Info—
INGRID!! I’m truly happy that the Smith’s will be getting such a wonderful neighbor as yourself! Please extend congratulations to them from all of us here on the blog!
And, we have a Facebook group starting; please join us:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125991615382&ref=mf
Another Debi in California on March 15, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Diana
You only deserve a home if you work for it like these winners did for their home. That’s how life works. The most deserving people for this gift would be those who are unable to work for one, like the blogger who can’t afford the cancer treatments she needs…. just being young is a pretty pathetic qualification compared to that!
Wow, what a fantastic gift, congratulations Cheryl Smith and husband. Thank you Gail for all of the wonderful info!! Did anyone see today’s Ellen Show . . .they gave a car and some cash to a family that was down on the funds. That was the kind of reaction I was looking for. She was shaking and screaming and hugging everyone. Thank you everyone for such a wonderful experience. I only posted a few times but was always excited to read everyone s post and perspectives. Meet you all at the green home . . .game on!!
Katydid,
What a sweet thing to say. You are such a sweet lady. You and Marie Miller are the bloggers I remember being here the most last year. Always liked your post. I didn't blog as often because of the delayed posting.
What fun it would have been if a regular blogger really won.
Brenda and Lovelykitty,
I’ll help with the plans for the SISBP but can’t attend b/c I live too far away!
If you think the SISBP will be relatively low in attendance, you guys are more than capable of handling everything. Have a great time, just post the pictures for us to see.
If you think the SISBP will be well attended, let me know what you want me to do.
I don’t think the Smiths will move to Sonoma since they moved to Florida to be with their son — BUT the Sonoma dream home is the perfect place for a great 3 month summer vacation should they decide to sell. Smiths, please take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity.
Just for the fun of it, why don’t you faithful bloggers send in a video to be the 2010 Super Fan? Age shouldn’t be a factor if you love HGTV, are comfortable in front of the camera, aren’t self-centered or self-serving, enjoy pitching another’s project and complement those you work with. I think this would be a great part-time job. Almost makes me want to take out my video camera and start filming!
See you on the green home blog.
Hi all,
. This is a quick note to those interested in the SISBP. We all have not truly set a date in stone, but are looking at maybe the 18th of April.
Glad to see I wasn’t banned
I will talk to the core ladies…Brenda, JandV’sMom, JennyD and Bonnie B. Ingrid, would also like to include you in the planning, but don’t have your e-mail, and truly don’t expect you to post here.
Like to know who plans on coming please.
I see that the Blogs have gone back to delayed posting, which is hard to talk together. This is why I never blogged a lot in the previous years. I blog too late for it to come on that same day, because the moderators have already gone home.
I wonder why so many of your winners come from Florda? There are 50 states in the US. My self and several people I talk to think this contest is fixed. It would be nice if someone won this contest that really needed it. A person down on their luck, many people have lost their jobs and homes in this recession.
there is no such thing as old couple. yes i might be considered old at 52, but not in my mind. I loved the couple that won this year such real happiness in their family and life. Got a big smile from the two of them I’m real happy for them. HGTV are such special people and I think their system of the sweepstakes is working perfectly because look who won! I can’t hardly wait to retire and putter around and be with my family as much as possible. Also I’m thankful for the winners advise about never giving up. I”ll be entering every dream home from here on out never giving up on the big dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIG DREAMER
I,too have entered for every home since 2003. I think it would be nice if eligbility for these homes would be not owning one in the first place. We live in California and haven’t been able to afford a home since we got married, it would just be nice for a change if that were the requirement,so it would be very special.To those who need a home! Thanks.
i hate this delay posting!!
I agree that you should not be allowed to already own a home when you enter the Dream Home giveaway. There are so many people out there who can’t afford a home or who have come into some bad times in their lives. Winning a home would truly be a “dream” for those people, not the ones just moving from their home into a bigger one. I think Nancy’s point (see above post), is not so much about the couple being “old” it’s that once again, the winner already had an established home. They didn’t even look all that excited. And the “young” couple that won last year – you guessed it – had a home. My husband and I work hard and save our money but because we live in an expensive state, home ownership remains out of our reach. For us and the people out there like us – this would have been a dream come true, not just another place to add to our list of homes.
I like to think the “Dream” in the Dream Home is for the designers to be able to design and build the most glamourous home they can – and I enjoy watching it – with no restraints – Winning the Dream Home is HGTV’s way of disposing of the project – and their decision to give it away randomly, with no discrimination to race, gender, creed, or social status is in keeping with the ideals America was founded on – way to go, HGTV!
A comment about a post from Mike on March 19, 2009 at 8:04 pm who asked why so many of the winners come from Florida. I think there has only been 1-winner from Florida since the HGTV Dream Home contest started 13-years ago.
1997-Michele Rambo-Tulsa Oklahoma
1998-Tina Carlson-Thousand Oaks,Calf.
1999-Belinda Brown-Kingston,Tennessee
2000-Mary Barker-San Antonio,Texas
2001-Kathy Hedrick-Gladstone,Missouri
2002-Milton O’Bryant-Midland,Texas
2003-John Groszkiewitcz-PA
2004-Kathi Nakao-Sacramento-Calf.
2005-Don Cruz-Ill.
2006-Donald P. Cook-West Virginia
2007-Robert O’Neill Sr.-Tennessee?
2008-I can’t remember the woman’s name who won the Florida DH-??
2009-Cheryl Smith-Florida
HGTV should change the rules-build a Dream Home but of lesser value. Then require each entrant to check to check one of the following: “own home” or “do not own home.” Pick a winner from each. The winner who does not own a home should win the Dream Home. The winner that owns a home should get a HGTV home makeover (HGTV could set a dollar limit).
There have been some complaints that many dream home winners have been from Florida and that they only choose “older” couples. Here are some statistics:
There has been only 1 winner from FL Cheryl Smith (Although Marsha Coulthard of Bradenton FL won the HGTV GREEN home 2008) 2 are from TX, 2 from CA, 1 from IA, 2 from TN,1 from VA, 1 from PA, 1 from IL,1 from Missouri, and 1 from Wyoming. The winners have been from many stages in life.
2009-Cheryl Smith Lakeland FL (Retired)
2008-Stephanie Dee-Easter Iowa (Physician’s Assistant)
2007-Robert O’Neill Sr.Johnson City, Tenn (older couple)
2006- Donald P. Cook West, Virginia
2005-Don Cruz, Batavia, Illinois (Young Family)
2004-Kathi Nakao,Sacremento CA (Small business owner)
2003-John and Karen Groszkiewicz, Lake City PA (41 yr old computer programmer at the time)
2002-Milton O’Bryant,Midland, Texas (49 year old police officer)
2001-Kathy Hedrick Gladstone, Missouri
2000-Mary Barker, San Antonio TX
1999-Belinda Brown of Kingston, Tennessee
1998- Tina Carlson of Thousand Oaks, California
1997-Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Mike on March 19, 2009 at 8:04 pm wrote:
"I wonder why so many of your winners come from Florda? There are 50 states in the US."
It's called the luck of the draw. It's quite possible that Floridians are just wild about HGTV. I know I am, and I have sand in my shoes…
Be happy for the winner(s).