Martha Stewart

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Seeing that her name has come up a couple of times in the last few threads, what's your take on Martha Stewart? Personally, I enjoy alot of her ideas, but I think I like the concepts, rather than the personality. I've watched her show and been put off by her conduct with some guests, and I used to take the magazine, but can't justify the cost for 90% of an issue that I can't relate to. Yet I know a couple of women who are slavish followers of every "Martha-ism". So, what's the take on this driven woman?

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 09, 2001

Answers

I think she is a phoney who has a large staff that does her research for her and makes her look knowledgeable! I've gone to her site for information, but I can't stand the womans attitude as she comes across so superior and know-it-all. My DD watched her can tomatoes on TV and she didn't run a knife in the filled jar to get the bubbles out and she DIDN'T WIPE THE RIM before putting the lid and cap one. Now, we know that if she had done this in her own kitchen before, she'd have known to do that!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 09, 2001.

I've read stories about how she can be a real she-dog to her staff and people around her. I do occasionally watch her show, just to get crafty ideas. I sure wouldn't even consider buying the things she promotes - way to expensive and for the most part totally unnecessary!

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), November 09, 2001.

While I do find a lot of her stuff interesting and sometimes even helpful, I do agree that she probably pays someone to do most of the stuff she "does herself!" I think those who try to "be Martha" have no real direction or idea of who they are to begin with.

That said, I do admire her drive. She has built a huge empire out of what most of us do for ourselves everyday. Now, why didn't I think of that!

-- Ivy in NW AR (balch84@cox-internet.com), November 09, 2001.


She doesn't intimidate me, which is why so many froth at the mouth when her name is mentioned.

I can do everything she does, better, and more besides.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), November 09, 2001.


I like her to a point. I like the idea that she likes to learn and gets others to learn. I've learned a few things from watching her show. So what if she doesn't come up with all the ideas, who could? I agree with you about the magazine.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 09, 2001.


At first I thought she was really cool. Then I thought, "I do the samethings for alot less money "!. I do love some of her ideas but anymore I think she needs to come down to earth and live with the rest of us. It's not normal to spend 98.00 on a garden shovel, or 68.00 on a soap kit that makes 10 bars!!She wouldn't last 10 minutes in my world!

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), November 09, 2001.

I feel she is expensive, but I used to like to watch her show when we got it a few years ago. I think she shows the extreme way of doing things, but you can use her ideas and make them your own. She is somewhat inspiring in this regard. I don't imagine many people can actually do everything she shows. I do admire her business sense, and her determination. I understand that she is a perfectionist, which would probably make her hard to work for though!

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 09, 2001.

I'm not sure I believe any woman who does that many things and doesn't wear an apron!!!!!!!!!!! I think she has some neat ideas.

-- DW (djwallace@ctos.com), November 09, 2001.

Is she married? Does she have any children? If the answers are no, then no wonder she can do so much! I'd like to see a Mary somewhere...you know, More Mary and Less Martha! Trouble is, most Marys are quiet about what they do and don't make a big show of it.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), November 09, 2001.

Burst my bubble Ardie, I was thinking of you as Martha Stewart - the Baywatch edition!!?

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 09, 2001.


Oy vey!

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), November 10, 2001.

I think most of us agree on Martha. A very small dose is a good thing. Sorry, couldn't resist that. anyway, I will defend her on one thing. I saw a segment on tomato canning where she did talk about wiping the rim and running a knife down the side. I think sometimes she is just giving the overview, not the nitty gritty. She has done a couple of segments on canning, so she may have been lax on one of them. Bottom line, she inspires me to look around a do a better job with what I have, but I wouldn't want to be that much of a perfectionist.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), November 10, 2001.

I like Martha in that she has demonstrated that "homemaking" is a worthwhile activity and can even be an art-she's made it acceptable to want to cook from scratch and to can things and to make your home beautiful yourself without hiring decorators and experts. However, I think she's gone to far and her ideas are way to expensive and time- consuming for me. A "Martha Lite" would be a fine thing.

-- kelly in Ky (KSADERHOLM@YAHOO.COM), November 10, 2001.

Ugghhh! I find her so annoying that I can't stand to watch her. I agree she doesn't live in the real world. For some reason, when I see her, I always feel she's calm on the outside, but chaotic on the inside (like drugged). I guess this is what irks me, and makes her annoying. I saw a commercial recently, where an MS type was making fun of her, shining DH's spark plugs, etc. It was a hoot!

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), November 10, 2001.

I don't need Martha to do my thinking or decorating for me. Mine might not be as fancy but I prefer to do it myself!

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), November 10, 2001.


From what I understand, she is divorced (her husband left for a younger woman is the story I read somewhere a few years back - one of her staffers apparently), and has one daughter, grown. I also read that she doesn't require a lot of sleep, which is apparently how she accomplishes a lot of what she does herself. I think she gets carried away and she is slightly annoying, but what do you expect from a former model with no family at home who has insomnia? (ha ha!) Some of her ideas are good, if overdone, and you have to give credit for turning housekeeping/homemaking/decorating into a multi-million-dollar enterprise; now she can afford to hire all the tedious day to day stuff done and concentrate on what she enjoys - must be nice!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@aol.com), November 10, 2001.

I've heard that she sleeps 2 hours and is awake 2 hours,..... Besides being a model, she was a stock broker or so I've heard.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony@countrylife.net), November 10, 2001.

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