I’m trying to do a red, white and black thing in my kitchen. I’ve a lot of black and red so far and decided to go with red silverware as well. Hampton forge actually has a few sets that fit the bill but I opted for Sophia because it was more affordable yet stylish.

I was super duper excited the day that I came home to see this box resting against my door and the marbled handles looked end better in person. I took pictures. Seriously. The Sophia Flatware Set is a bit brighter than the images on Amazon; however, all the pictures I’ve taken have shown up too bright and pink. The medium red handles are swirled with a lighter red. It’s subtle and sophisticated, just like the band joining the handle and head of the utensils.

I didn’t open it all up for a while because I had to wash and move my older silverware but I was so impressed when I did. These pieces are larger and weightier than what I was using. They’re.. kind of hardcore. That’s probably because I was using something cheap and not rust-resistant. I can definitely look forward to years of rust free flatware, given that the Sophia set is made of stainless steel (and plastic).

In case you were wondering, the package is set up so there are one of each utensil (fork, salad fork, spoon, soup spoon, knife) on display in front. Inside the box, every utensil is in a plastic bag and the types are grouped together by rubberband. If you’re impatient, like me, you will not be able to get the packaging off fast enough.

They’re ridiculously high quality, too. I know some people prefer the single piece metal style silverware because they worry the handle style will break. I absolutely expect this to last for years. It did take me a bit to get used to the feel of them but that’s not unusual.

I must honestly say that I am so glad I made this purchase. I put it off because it was a little more expensive than I expected. I will probably purchase another set, before too long, so I have enough for guests, too.

I have added a couple things to my kitchen recently that just make me love it. It might be my new favourite room in my home. Who’dathunk I’d ever say that?!

I love that I can take a few minutes to throw everything in the pot and walk away for several hours without thinking about it once! It’s minimal effort for the maximum output. The first recipe I made with my crock pot was probably the best meal I’d had in months and it was so easy. I didn’t have to stir or flip or add more ingredients or anything. If you’re new to crock pot cooking, the manual has a couple basic recipes, including roast, too.

The second thing that I love about this model is that the stone container within the metal base is removable. So when my food was done, I carefully lifted it out (with potholders!) and set it on a trivet. It easily doubles as a serving container–unlike some styles.

It also makes cleaning much easier because I can simply put the stone container in the sink and don’t have to worry about not getting the cord wet. I’ve wiped down the outside of the metal base with a Lysol wipe, when it needed it.

The Hamilton Beach 4 Quart Oval Slow Cooker is also super easy to use. There’s 3 settings: warm, low and high. So you can cook your food and keep it simmering and warm all day, too. I love that!

There are a few points that do not make this particular model the best for all cooks, however.

• It’s only 4 quarts. This isn’t an issue for me as all of the recipes I’ve made could easily serve 4 and only filled the pot about 1/2-3/4 of the way full but you can’t make a Thanksgiving turkey on this, either.
• The lid does not seal tightly. It sits pretty lightly on the cooker, I don’t think a lot of heat is escaping but it’s definitely something to consider if you need your crock pot to travel.
• Speaking of travel, the removable pot actually kind of works against that. I mean, it’s not a huge deal to remember to grab the handles at the base, instead of the actual pot, but you could easy grab the wrong ones and drop the base or burn yourself.
• There’s no medium setting. Really, you can adjust for this pretty easily but I just thought I’d mention it.

But considering that this specific model is less than $30, you could do a lot worse. CSN Stores has many crock pots, however; even if the crock pot I own isn’t the one for you. Kitchen appliances are really just one department of consumer goods available from CSN Stores and their 200+ related websites.

I’d never used a filter-style water pitcher before so I did some investigating on Amazon. There were a few options from names I knew, like Brita and Pur, and some which weren’t quite so well known. I was focusing mainly on price and reviews. I didn’t want to spend over $50 and wanted to keep it closer to $25 without getting a complete piece of crap. It became immediately obvious that whichever purchase I went with, I’d have to wait for the water to filter and would more than likely wind up dealing with a carbon filter which can sometimes result in carbon particles in the water.

When I had narrowed down my list to a few suitable options (although some didn’t have many helpful reviews), I began comparing size. Although my household is small, I didn’t want to be refilling the pitcher the times a day. Unfortunately, none of the sizes were measured with the same units and it seems like filter pitchers are just a whole lot smaller than I expected, even for someone who doesn’t drink a whole lot.

I eventually settled on the Brita Atlantis Water Pitcher which has a 1.5 quart capacity. See? Small. Still, it’s not so bad. The preparation was interesting. After washing the pitcher and pieces itself, I had to open and soak the carbon filter in water for 15 minutes. I would recommend using a large bowl, if you have one. I did not, so I had to fill my entire sink which is just barely taller than the filter. After soaking, I could see the carbon flakes in my sink, which I drained. The filter was easy enough to install in the cover of the pitcher and then it’s just a matter of filling this compartment, letting it filter into the pitcher itself and repeating.

It’s worth noting that the instructions say to dump out the first batch of filtered water to eliminate any carbon flakes. I saw none, however. Some of the reviewers on Amazon had a different experience. The water starts filtering immediately but does take a bit of time. You’re not going to get a glass of water within moments, unfortunately. That is one of the downsides to a filter pitcher instead of a filter on your tap; it’s not immediate. However, it only takes filling the filter chamber twice to fill the entire pitcher and this can be done with the cover on (there is a little ‘door’ which opens to allow access).

When it’s filtered, the water is crystal clear. And how does it taste? It doesn’t have that slight sweetness of some bottled water but it’s crisp and clear and really quite good. I don’t mind drinking it, like I mind drinking tap water.

Plus, the Brita Atlantis Water Pitcher can go right in the door of your refrigerator because of the thin design. I don’t keep it there simply because ours it fully and it can get heavy but it’s nice to have the option.

The pitcher I bought only comes with one filter that needs to be refilled periodically (there is a reminder sticker thing in the package but it was confusing so I tossed it). They recommend changing it ever 2-3 months for a family of 4 so I will be able to get by changing it a bit less frequently – definitely a plus!

Having a positive experience with the Brita Atlantis Water Pitcher makes me open to investigating in a larger, more expensive model by Brita sometime in the future – should the need arise. For now, I’m quite happy with my purchase.

The blanket reminds me of old people blankets. It’s made of “micro plush” which feels nothing at all like microfiber, as the name made me think. The top is detailed with a satiny strip of fabric and the other edges are finished with a whip stitch. There are coils throughout the blanket which are pretty thin and not necessarily pokey but I can still feel them. Overall, I’d say the blanket is okay. Not super comfortable. I wouldn’t want to sleep with it against my bare skin but I don’t mind it with a sheet underneath.

I plugged in the cord to the blanket and the other side to the outlet and Ryan got to use it at first. The manual says that it won’t feel directly hot so it’s not like you’re standing directly in front of the fireplace or radiator. It’s an indirect heat, like someone has been lying under the blanket and heated it with their body heat. It’s pretty comfortable and there are 10 different settings so you can have just a little heat or a lot, if you prefer. The manual also says it’s safe to “preheat” it by turning it up high before use then lowering it once it gets to the temperature you desire.

I was initially a bit worried about fire safety and there’s lots of notes about keeping it away from animals like cats. We have cats. Crazy cats, at that. But we put the Biddeford Electric Heated Blanket between the top sheet and comforter on the bed which offers a bit of protection and keeps it closer to us, as well. The blanket is also equipped with an auto shut off if it’s on for over 10 hours. We’ve occasionally forgotten that it was on so this is useful. Simply switch it off then back on for it to resume heating.

The analog controller sits on my nightstand, well within reach, and the cords are long enough that every reaches. Though, the cords are a bit heavy and have a tendency to pull the controller off the nightstand. I also have tripped over them a couple times. LOL There’s no place to put them to keep them out of the way and also have it be usable but that’s a small sacrifice. The numbers on the controller are backlit by an orange light which is easy to see at night and also indicates that it’s on.

Since we bought the Biddeford Electric Heated Blanket, the weather has warmed up a bit and we don’t use it every night. Some nights Ryan will turn it on but it’s too warm for me but it’s thin enough to leave it on the bed, turned off, on the slightly warmer nights.

Interestingly enough, this blanket is machine washable and dry-able; although, it does suggest some special care and not to use laundromat style machines which are all we have access to now. I would probably wash it by itself and hang it to dry, especially because it seems to pick up lint which sticks to the blanket. It’s already full of little lint balls from our comforter. The manual has many warnings about use which I would suggest reading before using the blanket for the first time and it wouldn’t hurt to keep around for future reference, either. Other than that, the Biddeford Electric Heated Blanket has worked exactly the way we needed.

Made of nonstick aluminum, this cake pan is definitely heftier than I am used to. It feels more hardcore. I know it sounds silly but it does. It’s thicker and seems less likely to bend. The nonstick coating is tangible and gives the pan a sort of shine but there’s also some iridescent sparkle to it for no other reason than appearances. Perhaps this is the kind of cake pan Dez would use to make bake for Twilight vampires. Perhaps not. The silicone grips “add a splash of color” according to the item listing but I wish I had more choices. Nothing in my kitchen is orange and most of the Rachael Ray Cookware seems to ignore the colour red as a whole. C’est la vie.

However, they are practical and make handling the pan easier, as do the super wide handles which significantly increase the area which one can grasp. “Rachael Ray” is embossed on the grips which also adds some friction (and can be used to name drop if you serve directly from the pan! ;)). If you think you may be able to touch them with your bare hands, be warned! Silicone is pretty susceptible to temperature changes so a pot holder is still a must. For those unfamiliar with silicone, worry not about it melting. Pure silicone can handle up to 600 degree temperatures (and the cake pan is actually stated for use up to 500 degrees, hmm..).

Because of the nonstick coating, the intructions advise not to spray or use metal tools which is par the course for most cookware. Of course, the reason most of us resort to forks and knives usually has something to do with the fact that those coatings fail and food becomes so baked on it almost seems bonded. Yet, I have never had bakeware actually live up to its claim as well as the Rachael Ray Yum-O! Bakeware 9″ Square Cake Pan did. My brownies peeled off easily and batter which has cooked to the sides was easy to remove, too. I could literally use a rubber spatula to remove any and all food remnants. It looked spotless before washing. On the note of washing, this cake pan is dishwasher safe but it is recommended to hand wash. My experience hints that this will not be a daunting task and the pan will look brand new after every use.

My brownies were not only cooked evenly but were done sooner because of the nonstick coating. Check your recipes or the back of the box so you don’t overcook your food. This 9″ x 9″ pan makes brownies of a perfect thickness but because it’s 1.5″ tall, can be used for a variety of dishes.

I was surprised by the ease of use of the Rachael Ray Yum-O! Bakeware 9″ Square Cake Pan and how it not only stood up against the competition but blew it out of the water. It does cost more than I may have spent in the past but now? I may have to reconsider my budget and invest in some bakeware for life.

This review is sponsored by Cookware.com

ARM & HAMMER premium allergen vacuum bags retain up to 100% of dust mite debris, household fibers, grass and ragweed pollens plus particles 15 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

It sounded like a good deal and we picked out the type for our Vacuum (D). At home, I tried to put the bag on but became increasingly frustrated because it just wasn’t fitting my vacuum’s nozzle. It just seemed too tight and then.. it ripped! I was worried but, actually, it only ripped a bit and it was just enough to make the bag slip on. The bag was secure enough so I closed up the machine and tested it out successfully.

I just think it’s odd that I should have to rip something to make it work but, in hindsight, it makes sense. The round hole in the bag is reinforced with a piece of cardboard (square with a round hole), but I think there is a small slit in the cardboard with the name brand bags that came with the vacuum to make application easier. Or perhaps it was just slightly larger. I do know it was easier to put on the original bags. It may be that Arm & Hammer has tried cutting some corners with their bags because one-size-fits most is definitely a hard order to fill. Potentially, I should have gone with a different type but both Arm & Hammer and Dirt Devil say D is okay to use (as is type U).

With that said, I’ll certainly have an easier time applying the rest of the Arm & Hammer vacuum bags (we bought a 3 pack) because I know to tear or cut it in the future but I may just buy the Dirt Devil brand vacuum bags, if I can find them and the prices are comparable.

The biggest issue is with my glasses which have sort of decorative grooves on them. Out if the dishwasher, those grooves are full of solidified/crystallized dishwasher detergent residue which, while generally benign, is certainly unsightly. It is certainly much worse than water spots.

Secondly, despite rinsing off my dishes, there are always some food particles left on something. Usually, it’s my pans which are teflon coated anyway and are never that difficult to clean by hand. What’s up with that? I know there’s bound to be a dish or two which doesn’t come out perfectly spotless but it’s more like half the rack. Some positive reviews say that rinsing your dishes beforehand is unnecessary and even wasteful but I’m not sure rinsing, machine washing then hand washing is any less wasteful!

I’m almost done with ths box and I will be buying something else. I’m curious about Fresh Scent Dishwasher Gel Packs but after my experience with the powdered dishwasher detergent, I don’t know if I’m that bold! This is one knock off which isn’t a great value.

The is apart of Foreman’s “Next Grilleration” line of grills and is definitely an improvement over our old countertop grill (which has since been trashed). Like the Champ grill, the GRP4b Grill lifts up to sandwich your food between a top and bottom grill plate. It advertises room for 4 burgers but I’d say it’s more like 2 or 3 (but that’s still a great improvement over 1). I was even able to cook 3 chicken breasts at a time. The actual grilling area is 72″c square, a little less than15″ by 5″.

Because of the top grill plate, there’s no potentially painful grease splatters. There’s also no need to flip your food because both sides cook at once. I have noticed, however, that, it seems to take longer to cook our food on this grill than the last one. The booklet estimates 8 – 10 minutes depending on your type of meat and one of the reviews for the GRP4b Grill on Target’s site also indicates that this grill is less hot than the fixed plate grills by George Foreman. Regardless, a couple of minutes wait time is more than enough for the convenience provided by the George Foreman Removable-Plate Grill.

While cooking, the grease from your food drips down the slightly declined bottom grill plate onto a plastic drip tray. The tray and accompanying spatula are made of a much stronger black plastic than those of the Champ grill. Furthermore, the spatula which comes with the George foreman GRP4B Grill is curved to make flipping or scooping up your food much easier. The spatula is made with notches that fit over the ridges on the grill to scrape off residual food or grease for cleaning.

The GRP4b Grill has the same nonstick coating as our old grill had. It’s something akin to Teflon but I believe the formula used on these grills is special to Foreman. Unfortunately, it started to rub off after only the first washing. There are certain places on the grill where the grill ridges are “pointed” and these spots seem especially likely for the coating to wear thin. On the good side, the coating hasn’t worn off any more than it did the first washing.

The top and bottom grill plates lift off by “floating” handles – handle and all. This means the plates are attached to plastic handles via screws. The plates are easy to clean by hand and are dishwasher safe; although, I’ve only cleaned them by hand so far. The rest of the grill can be wiped with a cloth if there’s any grease or food particles.

The George Foreman Removable-Plate Grill results in less greasy food (+health) and easier cleaning than a regular outdoor grill or even a frying pan. The GRP4B model is a substantial kitchen appliance which makes grilling multiple pieces of food quick and easy even during the cold winter months but which is still small enough to fit in your cupboard. We currently keep it on one of the top shelves without worry. I would definitely recommend this product.

This 3 pack includes a light, medium and dark brown marker for all your furniture touch up needs. They work best for small to medium scratches where only some of the finish has been removed. Bigger scratches are better fixed/hidden with furniture wax sticks.

The instructions say to start with the lightest marker so you don’t go too dark and to have a soft towel handy for wiping away any ink that gets anyplace other than the scratch. This is good to remember ebcause I got ink in a few places around the scratches and it’s a little darker than the rest of the pieces, now. Almost all of our furniture is really dark brown or black so I may never have a chance to use the light or medium. I did try with the medium first but it was so light it barely made a difference to I switched to the darkest marker almost right away.

I was really impressed with how it worked. Some of the smaller scratches are practically invisible now. The medium sized ones are more “blended” in and you can probably see them if you’re trying to but they definitely look much better. The improvement is awesome.

It seems like Guardsman makes a variety of shades as well as a few sets of furniture touch up markers. They’re even available in black and white. The company also makes a whole slew of other furniture care and repair products for your wood, leather or fabric furniture and I’d definitely look to them for my future needs after using the Guardsman Furniture Touch up Marker Kit.