Beachbrights' BookClub: Magazine Review: Fresh Home: Easy Ideas for Hands-On People

Let me first start off by saying that I am a tough reviewer. It's just that I am at a point in my life that if something doesn't reach out and grab me, I am not taking notice. Also, if something does not work properly and easy, I am done with it. You have one shot with me, you had better make it good or I am over you. The following statements are strictly my opinion. What works for me may not work for you. So, take what you can and leave the rest.

Fresh Home Magazine just published its first issue. The Editor in Chief is Neil Wertheimer and Creative Director is Michele Laseau. This magazine will publish 4 times a year.

Did I like this magazine? Yes and No. I liked the way the pages look, fresh and crisp. The layout has all kinds of graphics that note special information regarding products etc. Sometimes these graphics distracted from the pictures other times they were helpful. The magazine also packs a pretty good punch when it comes to "how-to" information.

The magazine is laid out into 4 basic categories: Favorite Things, Decorating, Outdoors and Fresh Living. Simple but nice. The magazine also has a nice balance of advertisements and content. They even list a Favorite Bloggers page (Why wasn't my blog listed? Kidding. Kinda).

So, are you ready for the other shoe to drop? Here's where the magazine lost me. It was too simple and not very exciting. I did not see anything I had not seen before. There was no depth and no real design star. I was left feeling "ho-hum" and incomplete. I think the magazine is trying to include too many subjects. It should either be Decor or Gardening, not both. Maybe if they could concentrate on one thing instead of four, I could walk away more inspired. I did not try any of the DIY projects. So, I can't speak on the accuracy of the instructions. The DIY pictures look helpful and the directions look complete. I guess I am just at a place in my life that if I need a new mailbox, I will go buy one. Building a mailbox is just not exciting to me. Yes, there are other "How-To" projects, none the more exciting.

Now for the kicker. I actually tried to buy a subscription to this magazine. They are offering a charter membership for $10. I went to their web address: www.freshhomemag.com, which by the way is not up and running yet (*points finger at IT department*), and I clicked on the subscription sidebar. I was directed to a fill-in the blank page with credit card info etc (they do not accept American Express, *points finger again*). Then I hit submit. I was directed to a Birds & Blooms page offering me a free copy. Ok, so I don't want my free copy of Birds & Blooms but there is not a "no thanks, close this window" button. I am looking, looking, nothing. So I hit the back button and I am taken to the original fill-in the blank subscription page. Did my transaction go through? I check my email and there is no confirmation. WTF? I don't want to hit submit again for fear that I will buy the subscription twice. Oh well, I am done at this point. So normally, I would have offered one lucky reader a free subscription but I have no idea how to purchase this magazine.

I will leave you with one last part of the magazine. I am always a sucker for a good "Before & After".