Now, this is a story all about how

Now, this is a story all about how
My crafting got flipped-turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you about the Explore, just not the Air

In Oklahoma I born and raised
In the craftoom was where I spent most of my days
Cuttin and gluin relaxing all cool
And all organizing some buttons next to the tools
When a couple of gals who were up to no good
Started makin trouble in my craftinghood
I made one little post and someone got scared
They whined and cried and said I was rude and not fair

I laughed and joked with them throughout the day
But they kept on talking smack while running away
I told them what they could kiss and then said f*uck it
I turned my Explore on and said 'I might as well cut it'.

*okie fall out chair laughing* Okay, okay I couldn't resist the lyrics and I know some of you were reading with a beat knowing where that little diddy originated and it was more about the comments made on my first post reviewing the Explore One. 

But for realz I wanna share how I ended up getting to review the Explore and the Explore One because I know some are curious and some folks are down right pissed off about it. Since I have quite a few Facebook friends I got a lot of private messages when I first reviewed the Explore about how some people in Facebook groups and the Cricut Messageboard *okie observes a quick moment of silence in remembrance of something that use to be great* were upset that I was choosen to review the machine since I had divorced Cricut a few years back. I thought it was funny and told the dear people who were trying to protect my honor I didn't give a rats ass about what people thought I might have done to be able to review the Explore. 

But here is how it happened. Sometime ago Ashish Arora, the CEO of Provocraft, sent me a friends request on Facebook and I sent him a message that I was curious as to why he would want to be my friend. It was quite a bit later that he messaged me back, stating he was still trying to get use to the whole Facebook thing and my message went in his other folder *okie figures that is plausible enough because she can't even get private messages on her phone anymore* and we chit chatted for a bit and he asked if I would be willing to review the Cricut Explore. I asked if he really wanted me to do that since I give my very honest opinions about products and he said that is exactly what he was wanting. Of course at that time I smirked to myself thinking "he doesn't know what he is in for". I even asked him "Um...Did ya ask Dan about me?" because I knew Dan would be able to convey in person how honest I am about things and he said he and Dan had talked in length. By this time I was thinking that Ashish was completely out of his ever lovin mind! He kept telling me he was very proud of the changes they made to the Cricut and how it was a superb machine and he had confidence in the abilities of the machine. 

Of course y'all know that I am truly impressed with the Explore and quite astonished in the changes Provocraft has made. After my reviews I was approached about being a "product expert" and I agreed but once I received the non-disclosure agreement I told them I would not be able to join that group because I would't sign the NDA that in so much wording said I would not be able to say anything negative about the company for a period of three years. I understand their need for the agreement and they understood that I would not compromise my integrity and honest opinions about products that I try and write about. I have learned over the years that people trust my opinions because I am a straight shooter. After that I thought the correspondence was done but then about a month ago I was contacted by Ashish about reviewing the Explore One and I agreed. 

So you see I didn't need to find something to blackmail Provocraft with so I could get a machine to review, I didn't contact them and beg, I didn't post all over the internet how I would love to review a machine...or anything else. Okay I will admit that I do know there were two dear friends that were suggesting that I would be allowed to review a machine. It was simply one man asking me if I would be willing to review a machine made by a company that I had moved away from in the past. 

Now if you think it is easy to review things think again. Yes, I received the machines for free but...I use my own time to test the machines, my own time to write up reviews, my own time to take pictures, my own time to edit and post and my own materials to cut in the machine for reviews. I have a full time job and crafting is not it. The reviews are done in my free time, something I cherish. I am not compensated in any other way for what I have reviewed. 

And there ya have the story.