Both stick and hand mixers are limited in their range of functions, while a stand mixer has a greater capacity for multi-tasking. Plus, if you use a hand mixer, you have to hold the bowl with one hand while operating the mixer with the other. A stand mixer sets you free from having to do that.

They’re great appliances – and once you get the right one, you’ll love what it can do for you in the kitchen. But, when you’re planning to purchase one, you don’t want to just pick whichever one happens to be the most recent one on the market because that one may not be the best one for you.

Instead, the first thing you want to consider is how many times per week you’re going to be using the mixer. You also want to consider how complicated the recipes will be so that you’ll know what sort of food preparation your mixer will be handling.

If you’re looking at doing simple, fast dishes without a lot of mixing (and you’re only going to use a mixer sporadically), then you can probably be happy with a simple model – one without a lot of bells and whistles.

But if the mixer is going to be an important part of your cooking production or it’s going to be used often, then you’re going to want to choose a mixer with plenty of features.

What’s the difference? Basic stand mixers can’t handle the same workload because the internal parts are different. Some of the gears and motors within some models are meant to handle the more frequent uses and the heavier loads.

You don’t want to buy a cheap stand mixer with few features and use it constantly only to have it break down on you before a year is up. So the first thing you want to take into consideration about your potential mixer is how well it can stand up to the task at hand.

Ability to Handle Heavy Duty Tasks

If you’ve ever made homemade dough, then you understand what a physical chore it can be. Not only is there a lot of work involved if you use the old fashioned method of kneading it on a counter, but the clean up after you’re done with the preparation isn’t all that fun, either.

For those who have the right kind of stand mixer, making dough changes bread-making from a chore to something that’s done in a few, quick minutes.

When making bread or pizza, you know that working with thick dough is strenuous and can take a lot of energy and strength. But stand mixers now can work the dough – and even if it’s thick, that doesn’t matter.

However, you can’t just choose any stand mixer if you’re planning to use it to make dough. One with a lightweight motor won’t be able to handle the strain and you’ll burn the motor out.

When you’re making batter, whether it’s for cookies or some other recipe, the strength of the stand mixer matters here, too. Buying a stand mixer that has a lower wattage is okay if you’re only going to use it for lighter dough or if you’re not going to use the mixer that much when making heavy duty recipes.

But, when you make family size amounts of dough or you make dough on a regular basis, then you must have the correct amount of wattage for your stand mixer. How much wattage your mixer has just means that’s how strong it is in the motor – and it’s also an indicator of what it can handle.

The models with the lower wattage will have lower power motors and lower price tags, whereas the higher wattage models will cost more. But what you have to consider is if you buy a lower wattage motor that has trouble working thick dough, then you’re putting a lot of strain on the motor.

Eventually, this strain will cause it to tear up – because it wasn’t meant to handle the thicker dough. One clue that your mixer is having a problem with the dough is if it starts to act like it’s struggling to work the dough. Take a look at our review of which stand mixer is best for bread dough.

It’s not moving as fast as it normally should be. If you notice this, it means your motor isn’t strong enough to handle the thickness of that recipe. The rule to remember when purchasing a stand mixer is to always evaluate your purpose for the mixer and buy wattage accordingly.

There are also other features you’ll want to look at when you’re looking for a stand mixer and one of those features is how loud or quiet the machine is.

Sound

Every appliance is going to make some noise – and a stand mixer is no exception. However, there’s loud and then there’s too loud. The sounds a stand mixer makes come from the mixing action, but it also comes from the motor.

The internal workings of the mixer will determine how much noise it makes. If you buy a stand mixer that has metal gears, then those will make more noise, but metal gears are the toughest and can stand up to frequent as well as heavy use.

Some of the mixers have nylon gears – and these are quieter than metal ones, but they can’t always handle the strain of thick or stiff dough. Once the gears inside a stand mixer become damaged, then of course you either have to replace the parts or the appliance – this is why it’s so important that you buy a mixer that can handle thick recipes if that’s what you plan to use it for.

You’ll be able to tell if your gears are having trouble because you’ll start to hear them grind. A stand mixer will also make noise if it ‘walks’ along the counter as it’s in use – unless you buy a mixer that has suction feet grips on the bottom.

Attachment Choices

The attachments and extras that come along or that you can buy for your stand mixer are varied and can help you perform a multitude of tasks. Every stand mixer comes with features that make it a favorite appliance.

You’ll get a splatter shield, which is handy to use when you want to put more ingredients into the mix when you’re already running the mixer. It keeps the food in the mixer bowl and keeps the ingredients from splashing back.

Of course, the attachments that come with your stand mixer or are sold separately can help you get so much more out of the appliance. Most of them come standard with flat beaters, which are great for use in making mixed meat dishes or wire whips – and most come with a hook for dough so that you don’t have to knead by hand anymore.

It’s the extras that can give you a lot of value for your money. You can get a tool that will swipe the sides and bottoms of the bowl so that you don’t even have to scrape it to get every drop of ingredients out.

If you buy the right type of stand mixer with power outlets for other attachments, you’ll be able to enjoy multiple uses. For example, one stand mixer allows an attachment that can also be used to make pasta.

You can also use another attachment to grind meat. There’s also an attachment that can be used as a juicer and one that can be used as a food processor. So you can imagine just how handy it would be to have a mixer that could do all of that.

Besides the attachments that you can get to enhance the mixer, you can also buy an attachment pack that will have various grinders, shredders, strainers and more included in it.

Ease of Cleaning

Of course you don’t want to get an appliance you have to arm wrestle just to assemble or disassemble. And you also don’t want to get a mixer that’s going to have you cleaning the machine for hours. What use is convenience if it’s a hassle in the long run?

Fortunately, there are plenty of stand mixers that are super easy to clean. You can just place the bowl and mixing pieces right in the top rack of the dishwasher and get them clean. The main unit itself is easy just to wipe down.

To disassemble a stand mixer, you want one that’s a 1-2-3 step process so that you can get inside the head of the machine to clean it and keep it working well. Look for the models that have an easy quick release latch that lets you take off the head of the appliance.

To change out various attachments, you can lift the head of the mixer and push the new piece into place. Most stand mixers are easy to assemble when you want to use it and the pieces simply lock into place.

Durability

There’s an old saying that goes, “Things just aren’t made the way they used to be,” and while that’s true, a good appliance will last for many years. In fact, you’ll find the guaranteed warranty years will range from 3 to 25 and possibly a lifetime if you take care of it.

The stand mixers for today are meant to last. They have long lasting metal parts made of steel and chrome to give you the best that money can buy in a kitchen countertop appliance.

Many stand mixers come with long-term warranties guaranteeing the product’s internal pieces, including the motor. Depending on what you use the machine for, a mixer can overheat – but with the safety features built into these appliances today, the machine is programmed to shut down automatically if it overheats in order to protect the motor from burning out.

If once it cools down, it works as normal, this means the job you had it do was too much work for it. This is why it’s important to consider power when you’re in the market for a good stand mixer.

If you notice a problem while you’re mixing up something, immediately lower the operating speed. Sometimes, the machine overheats if you’re using it too fast or if you’ve been using it for hours at a time.

The motor has oil and there’s grease inside the machine designed for it to give you many years of usage, but you need to keep up with maintenance on the machine by either doing it yourself or having it checked whenever you notice an issue.

Size Appeal

Because it sits on the countertop, you want a stand mixer that has a lot of power, but not necessarily a lot of dimension. Remember that you want to get a mixer sized right so that when you tilt the head back, you still have plenty of room if you have low hanging cabinets.

You don’t want to be wrestling an appliance in a tight space. A bulky and overly large mixer might be too much for you to handle if you don’t plan to house it on the countertop.

If you store it elsewhere, then you don’t want one that weighs a lot, making it hard to move. But on the other hand, if you plan to keep it on the counter, you don’t want to get one that’s too lightweight unless it has feet grips.

However, most stand mixers are streamlined enough so that they don’t take up much countertop space if you want to leave them sitting out.

If space is an issue, such as in a small studio apartment, you can look into purchasing a compact stand mixer, which has a lot of the same features as a regular model does but doesn’t have the height or bulk.

Price and Value

When buying a mixer, you’re going to want to consider the value of what you’re getting versus the price that you’re paying out. You’ll notice that there’s a huge range in price when it comes to these mixers.

Some of the starting prices are at less than $40 but range all the way up to almost $400. That’s a large difference – so how can tell which one is the best? You have to look at what you plan to use it for.

If you only plan to use a mixer occasionally and never for heavy dough, then you can opt for one that’s lower in cost, has fewer features and usually has a power around 250 wattage. The bowls for these will be smaller too, so take that into consideration.

But if you plan to do a lot of cooking using your mixer, then you’ll want to opt for a higher wattage, larger bowl and more speed. If you often cook for friends or large family get-togethers, then you might even want to consider using a professional model.

Extended Warranty

Finally, you should consider whether you need an extended warranty. You can decide this by basing the cost of the extended warranty against the purchase price of the mixer. If you’ve purchased an expensive mixer with a lot of features, then you might want to opt for this extra warranty.

But if you haven’t got time to stand around measuring coffee grinds, waiting for your coffee maker to brew and cleaning up the inevitable mess you might feel like you haven’t got any other option.

Well you can think again – because a single-serve coffee maker is just what you need to get your mornings off to a great start, with no mess and no time wasting. Just top up the water, select the flavour coffee you like, add the pod to the machine and press the button. In less than a minute you’ll have a freshly brewed cup of coffee ready to drink.

Oh and there’s no mess either, just throw the pod away and you’re good to go, and if someone else in your family wants to drink an entirely different flavour of coffee they can just pick up the right pod, no cleaning in between to remove the tastes.

There are many different makes and models of single-serve coffee machines available today but the two contenders fighting for the title of King of the Single Serve Pod machine are the Keurig B60 and the Senseo 7810, and they’re about to go head to head as we look at which one is going to help you do away with your early morning coffee blues!

Keurig B60 Special Edition Gourmet Single-Cup Home brewing System – Vital statistics

• Average Price: $299.99
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 15.1 x 15.2 inches
• Weight: 2 pounds
• Power: 1500-watts
• Compatible with: Patented K-cups
• Features: Removable 48-ounce water reservoir, removable drip tray, 3 brew options, 2-hour automatic shut-off, descale indicator

How does the Keurig B60 handle single serve coffee?

Easy to use

The Keurig B60 is really easy to use, just choose your pod flavour, drop it in the machine and you’re ready to go. This machine has a large 48-ounce water reservoir so you don’t need to fill it up every time you want to make a cup of coffee.

The backlit menu walks you through the process and tells you when your coffee is ready to brew.

The Keurig heats up the water in about 20-30 seconds deepening on how full the reservoir is and if you want to make a second cup you can do so straight away. This makes it the ideal choice if you like to entertain because you can make different flavours of coffee for each guest without them having to wait around for the water to reheat.

Lots of flavours available

With a wide range of K-Cups on offer there really is something to suit every taste as well as teas, hot ciders and hot chocolates for those who aren’t big fans of coffee.

One downside to the K-Cups is that the coffee isn’t particularly strong. If you are happy to use a smaller mug or cup then you can adjust the brewing setting to make the coffee stronger, but if you like a big mug then you might be disappointed with the strength.

The K-Cups aren’t recyclable at the moment so you might prefer to invest in a set of filter cups and use your own coffee grounds instead, you can be environmentally conscious and save money without sacrificing the taste of your coffee.

Easy to clean

If you’ve not invested in a coffee machine before because you hate the thought of cleaning up the mess then you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the low maintenance of the Keurig B60. The water reservoir is easily washed with just soap and water, or a vinegar solution and that’s all the machine really needs. If you get any smudges or drips just wipe the unit down with a damp cloth.

Convenient and looks great too

The machine is designed for convenience, it really is a press and go model, which means you don’t get lots of fancy options, but if all you want to do is make a great tasting simple cup of coffee then it is definitely up to the task. As well as being easy to use and simple to clean the Keurig Single-Cup Home-Brewing System looks great too with its chrome accents and backlit display, it’ll look great on your kitchen countertop.

Senseo 7810 Single-Serve Gourmet Coffee Machine – Vital statistics

• Average Price: $64.99
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 8 ½ x 13 ½ inches
• Warranty: One-year limited
• Features: Dishwasher safe parts, simple push button controls, compatible with pre-measured coffee pods, brews up to eight ounces in under one minute

How does the Senseo 7810 handle single serve coffee?

Making frothy coffee in no time

Once you’ve taken the Senseo 7810 single-serve coffee machine out of its box you’ll be making coffee in no time, it’s really simple and intuitive to use, just fill up the water reservoir and pop in a pod or two and you’re on your way.

There’s a mild pressure system which heats the water up to 250 degrees fahrenheit for the perfect cup of coffee, and there’s even a frothing chamber which adds a layer of froth to the top of your gourmet drinks, just like in Starbucks!

Great tasting coffee and great value too

The coffee pods for the Senseo are among the best in the market, and they’re less expensive than other brands which makes this an economical machine. The resulting drinks are smooth and rich in flavour, with that added froth on the top. The number of flavoured coffees is limited but you use flavoured creamers instead.

If you like your coffee strong then the Senseo has one over on the Keurig because you can use two pods in the machine to strengthen the coffee, if you do this then a cup of coffee works out about the same price as a single pod from another machine.

The pods aren’t as easy to come across in the store, but you can save money by buying in bulk from online stores like Amazon anyway.

There have been some reports of the Senseo leaking though we’re not sure if this is down to a design fault or user error, if you have a light coloured countertop then it might be a wise idea to put a plastic tray underneath just in case.

Just like the Keurig the Senseo 7810 is easy to clean, and has the added benefit of the parts being safe in the dishwasher.

It doesn’t have the backlit display or pre-programmed settings, but if you just want to make a cup of coffee then the one-touch controls make this model excellent value for money.

So which is the best one cup coffee maker with pods – the Keurig or the Senseo?

Both models are easy to use, easy to clean, and produce great tasting coffee in an instant.

While the Senseo is considerably cheaper and has the option of using two pods for stronger coffee the Keurig has the option to brew three different sizes of coffee (5.25, 7.25 and 9.25 oz), the largest of which is perfect for filling a travel mug using an Extra Bold K-cup. Add to that the wide range of coffees, teas and hot chocolates available, and the attractive design and we believe the Keurig B60 is worth the extra investment.

I’ve been doing some research and have found the two main contenders in the fight for the best stand mixer for making bread with and they are the KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart stand mixer, and the Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine.

The Bosch Universal Plus – Vital statistics

The Bosch Universal Plus is certainly not the prettiest stand mixer you will ever come across, but don’t let looks deceive you. This machine has a four-gear, 800-watt motor which will make light work of pretty much anything you throw at it and has overland and motor start protection. The 6.5 quart bowl is made of heavy plastic (though you can purchase a stainless steel one if you prefer) and includes a bowl cover. It comes with wire whisks and the all important dough hook, and can handle up to 15 pounds of dough at a time.

How well does the Bosch Universal Plus handle bread dough?

Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine

Pretty darn well by all accounts. Whole grain bread is usually the best measure of how well a stand mixer can cope with dough, and with the Bosch you can mix enough dough for six to eight loaves of healthy whole grain without straining the mixer.

The dough hook action results in a lovely airy loaf which looks so smooth it could have been created by a professional baker.

Obviously rising dough is key to great bread and with some mixers you have to worry about the dough rising up out of the bowl, but thanks to the handy bowl cover that is not a problem with the Bosch.

Another concern when using a stand mixer to make bread dough is whether your mixer will walk off the counter if you leave it unattended, but you don’t have to worry about that because Bosch have clever included suction caps on the base of the mixer, so you can just stick it to the countertop. Simple but effective and it means you don’t have to stand over the mixer while it’s doing it’s job.

All in all the Bosch Universal Plus does a great job of making bread dough, just be warned that it turns out so tasty your family will want fresh bread every day of the week!

Watch Sarah show you how it’s done in this short video…

KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer – Vital statistics

KitchenAid Artisan

Unlike the Plain Jane appearance of the Bosch the KitchenAid is a sight for sore eyes, and with 27 gorgeous colours to choose from there’s one to suit every taste and kitchen colour scheme. There’s even a pink version which would make a great gift for Mother’s Day and KitchenAid will donate $50 to the Komen Foundation if you purchase one.

The Artisan isn’t quite as powerful as the Bosch with its 10-speed, 325-watt motor, but it can still make small work of bread dough. It ships with a flat beater, a wire whip and a dough hook and has a 5-quart stainless steel bowl.

How well does the KitchenAid Artisan handle bread dough?

Some of the older KitchenAid models struggled with bread dough and there were complaints of motor burn out, which is not something you want to see happen to your expensive stand mixer. The good news is that the issue has been rectified with the new Artisan model which handles dough perfectly well, as long as you follow the instructions properly and use the dough hook with a speed setting of one or two (any higher than that and you risk burning the motor). Whether you want to bake bread or pizza the Artisan will quite happily churn out more than enough to feed a large family.

One complaint about the Artisan seems to be that the dough hook doesn’t incorporate all of the mixture due to ‘dead spots’ where the hook doesn’t reach. On further investigation it would appear that this is very easily remedied by adjusting the beater adjustment screw and full details can be found in the manual.

Overall the Artisan has thousands of fans who all enjoy eating fresh bread that they have made with this stand mixer. Watch this video to see just how easy it is.

Which stand mixer is best for bread dough – the Bosch or the KitchenAid?

Both stand mixers are suitable for bread dough, and each does the job very well. So which mixer you opt to invest in will come down to personal choice based on a number of things:

1. Budget – the RRP for the Artisan is $349.99 (though Amazon has some great discounts depending on the colour option you select bringing it into the sub $300s), the Bosch is more expensive at $479.99 RRP (though again Amazon has a good discount and free shipping). What do you get for the extra $130? A more powerful motor and its easier to clean too as most of the parts are dishwasher friendly.

2. Appearance – the Bosch is a workhorse but it’s not the prettiest of appliances, the Artisan on the other hand is gorgeous and will look great sitting on your countertop.

3. Capacity – the Bosch has the larger capacity bowl which is important if you need to make large batches of bread (or cookies, or cakes) at once.

4. Accessories – The Bosch has a number of separate accessories that you can purchase including an attachment that will turn it into a food processor (which means you don’t need to buy one of those separately) as well as blender and cookie paddles. The Artisan appears to have a wider range of additional accessories including a mixer attachment pack for grinding, shredding and slicing, a sausage stuffer and an ice cream maker. With so many on offer your family will never be short on options for Christmas gifts again!

If like me you love to bake then you will not regret investing in a stand mixer, in fact once you have one you will wonder how you ever baked without it!

There are quite a few brands to choose from but in the fight for kitchen supremacy the only real contenders are KitchenAid and Cuisinart.

Here are some key features you need to look for when choosing a stand mixer:

1. Make sure it has a whisk attachment so that you can whip up those egg whites into frothy meringues.
2. It will need a paddle attachment so that you can cream up your butter and sugar for light and fluffy cakes, it’s also great for dreamy mashed potatoes.
3. Look for a dough hook attachment and make sure the motor is powerful enough to mix two pounds of bread dough without shaking or burning out.

1.Bestseller: KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer

The bestselling stand mixer on Amazon right now is the KitchenAid Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer. This stand mixer is really easy on the eye and you can choose between the stylish silver or the stunning gloss cinnamon options.

This mixer ships with a burnished powerknead spiral dough hook, flat beater and a wire whip so it has everything you need to whip up some yummy breads and cakes.

The 6-quart capacity allows you to create double batches of cookies and cakes which is a massive time saver when you’ve got hungry kids lining up to sample your goodies – the only downside is that there’s only one whisk attachment, which might cause an argument if you have more than one child who’s keen to sample the raw cookie dough! Don’t worry if you only want to create smaller batches as it works just fine with those too, you don’t need to take full advantage of the 6-quart every single time.

The KitchenAid Professional has a fixed head which means that you can tuck it right back on your countertop under the cabinet as you don’t need the extra clearance space to lift the head when removing the bowl.

The best of the rest

Unsurprisingly KitchenAid has the lion’s share of the bestseller list for stand mixers, and the Artisan Series 5-Quart mixer has snagged 4 entries!

2. KitchenAid KSM150PSWH Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, White

3. Sunbeam FPSBHS0302 250-Watt 5-Speed Hand and Stand Mixer Combo, Black

4. KitchenAid K45SS Classic 250-Watt 4-1/2-Quart Stand Mixer, White

5. KitchenAid 4-1/2-Quart Ultra Power Stand Mixer, Empire Red

6. Sunbeam FPSBHS0301 250-Watt 5-Speed Hand and Stand Mixer Combo, White

7. KitchenAid KSM150PSER Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Empire Red

8. KitchenAid KSM150PSOB Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Onyx Black

9. Hamilton Beach 730C Classic DrinkMaster Drink Mixer, Chrome

10. KitchenAid KSM150PSPT Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Pistachio

These kinds of gardens can also be used as a way to have fresh vegetables to add to your meals, as a way to produce herbs to flavor your foods – or to garnish a delectable dish. These kits make a great way to grow very tasty tomatoes, too – a container garden favorite.

There are many items you need for container gardening, but there’s no need to run all over town trying to get everything together. You can get the supplies you need for successful container gardening already put together in one handy kit with the Earthbox Garden Kit.

You’ll get the container box and fertilizer to help whatever you plant or transplant to grow. Since the fertilizer is already premeasured and precontained in a strip, you’ll get just the right amount.

You’ll also get the dolomite or the mineral that you’ll need for whatever plant you put in your garden and you’ll also get the covers that you’ll need for the protection of the plants. By getting everything you need in one kit, that means you won’t have to spend hours out in the hot sun preparing the ground for the plants or seeds.

You won’t have to pull those pesky weeds that can pop up and be detrimental to your plant and you won’t have to figure out how much soil or mineral content you’ll need. All of that is already figured out for you, so all you have to do is enjoy the convenience of the kit.

The container box has wheels on it, so it’s really handy to move around without being tough on your back muscles. You can move it from sun to shade and back again or from indoors to outside whenever you’d like.

Because this kit includes the kind of container with a water reservoir, you won’t run the risk of giving your plants too much or too little water like you would if you were using the direct method of watering. This kit also comes with instructions – it’s so simple to use that even beginners will love it and be able to grow a successful garden!

The Panasonic microwave oven has a large capacity for family-sized meals, plus technologically advanced features that make cooking a breeze with one-touch buttons. It is also clever enough to automatically adjust power and cooking time to properly cook your meals. From cheese pizzas to chocolate cakes and even a tasty beef stew, the Panasonic Prestige Convection Microwave can handle it all.

Features

• Product Dimensions: 19.5 x 23.7 x 14.8 inches; 47 pounds
• Capacity: 1 ½ cubic feet
• Power: 1100 watts
• Power Levels: 10
• Includes: 15-inch turntable
• Inverter Turbo Defrost Technology, one-touch sensor cooking, delay start, timer, more/less control, keep warm

The best bits about the Panasonic NN-CD989S

Dual-Purpose: The appliance combines the efficient cooking power of a convection oven with the speed and convenience of a microwave so you can cook just about anything you want, including cakes, pizzas, stews and fish filets. It’s a countertop model, but with the purchase of the optional fitting kit you can install it over the range too.

Four-in-One Cooking Options: With the Panasonic Prestige Convection Microwave, you get four-in-one cooking capabilities that you won’t find with other appliances. Choose from the following modes: Microwave, Bake, Broil or Combination. With Microwave mode, you can heat, reheat and defrost meals within minutes, while the Bake mode allows you to bake and brown your favorite goodies using circulated heated air. Broil mode is great for forcing heat inside foods so that flavors and juices are sealed inside, while Combination mode delivers the speed of a microwave and the baking and browning of a convection oven for pure perfection.

New Technology: The Panasonic wouldn’t be complete without advanced technology built into it. Like other Prestige models, the convection microwave includes Inverter Turbo Defrost Technology and the Genius Prestige Sensor. These options make it quick and easy to defrost and cook foods while automatically adjusting power levels and cooking time. These features are going to save you even more time in the kitchen without sacrificing the quality of your food.

Modern: There are so many forward-thinking features included with this microwave that won’t have to worry about it dating too quickly. The large capacity will grow with your family and the programmable dials are easy to use.

The downsides to the Panasonic NN-CD989S

Oven Light: For some strange reason you can’t change the oven light yourself, when it burns out  you’ll have to call someone out to replace it for you. I’m not sure how much of a downside that really is though as I’ve had my microwave oven for 12 years and the light is still going strong! The light is a little dim though so if you like to watch your food cooking you’ll want to make sure you put the oven in a brightly lit area of your kitchen, I don’t know about you but I tend to stick my food in the microwave and wait for it to beep before I go back to it.

Is the Panasonic NN-CD989S the right microwave oven for your kitchen?

This forward-thinking appliance combines the speed and convenience of a microwave with the even cooking of a convection oven. From baking to broiling to heating and reheating, the convection microwave will take care of it all. And thanks to modern day technology that has been perfected by Panasonic, you can get the most out of an intuitive appliance that seems to know exactly what you’re cooking. With a fingerprint-resistant steel exterior and the option to install the microwave over the oven or leave it on the countertop, any kitchen can welcome this addition that’s just as stylish as it is functional.

Because they’re so small, they’re hard to see with the naked eye (and what they leave behind are plenty of droppings on your mattress). Dust mites can adversely affect your health in areas that will give you allergies.

They can give you bronchial problems and bother people who have asthma. They can also cause skin disorders and rashes. It’s not a nice mental image, but it is reality. You can protect your mattress from these unhealthy invaders by using a form fitting mattress cover like the Sleep TITE Mattress Protector.

The elastic around the mattress protector will help keep your mattress clean and free of unwanted guests. The material of the protector is completely waterproof, so you won’t have to worry about anything leaking onto your mattress.

It’s so easy to spill a drink in the bedroom and have it soak the mattress or have a child accidentally wet the bed during the potty training years. Spills, urine, and night sweats all add up to a breeding ground for dust mites – and that’s why you want to keep your bed safe from anything dust mites find tasty.

When liquids get through to your mattress, it soaks all the way down into your mattress material and the liquid spreads beneath the surface, trapping the liquid in until it dries. Once it’s dried, there can be an odor and an unsanitary condition – especially if a child or pet has wet the bed.

The Sleep TITE Mattress Protector is hypoallergenic, so anyone with allergies can safely use the protector. It has a soft, comfortable surface and the back of the material helps guard against mites or other unfriendly creatures.

Plus, it helps in the prevention of fungi so that your mattress stays in pristine shape. Because the material isn’t vinyl, these protectors offer cool comfort that’s not sticky. The protector isn’t thick or bunchy, so you won’t even feel it there – and it doesn’t crinkle when you move, so you won’t hear crackling noises when you’re on it.

Investing in a mattress cover is a smart decision to protect your mattress and your health. Get one for every bed in your home, but especially for beds your children sleep on. Since dust mites can also live in pillows, you can also pick up pillow protectors made by the same company.

From overly large portions at restaurants to tempting ads about food, you have to develop a tough mindset if you want to be a conqueror in the battle of the bulge. It’s hard to ride into battle if you don’t have the right equipment.

Trying to lose weight and having an outdated, temperamental scale (or worse, no scale at all), is a step toward conceding your weight loss challenge from the get go. Without a scale, it’s too easy for weight to creep on – it doesn’t happen overnight – and that’s why most people are shocked when they see pictures of themselves and actually see how much weight they’ve put on.

When you have a scale that gives you several different readings, it’s tempting to pick your favorite (always the lowest of course) but that wouldn’t be accurate or fair to you. You want a scale that will measure even the points of a pound for you – because on the days when you struggle to lose, seeing any kind of weight loss momentum can help cheer you on toward the finish line.

The EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale has that kind of feature. It will measure the weight loss by point. With some scales, if you’ve lost .5, it’s not going to even register – but this one will show you that victory step that you’ve reached, and it’s a great morale booster.

If you’re trying to put on muscle instead of lose weight, this scale will also accurately keep up with how much muscle weight you’ve gained.

You don’t have to deal with whacking the scale with your foot anymore to get it to come on and light up. With this one, all you have to do is get on the scale and it will give you a read out. It’s easy to read because the LCD is pretty big, and it has a backlight too, so it’s easy to read any time of the day.

The sensors in the scale are pinpoint accurate, so you’ll get the right reading every single time you take your weight measurements. It’s already set to the proper tuning when you get it, so you won’t have to fiddle with it and you won’t have to buy batteries to see the read out either, because the batteries come with the scale.

Having the EatSmart Precision Digital Bathroom Scale will make it easier for you to lose weight because you’ll have a handy way to keep a chart of your weight loss over time.

Then when we do need something, we fish around and try to find that item. They start out small and can grow to epic messes. You’ll get paper clips, tape, pens, change, calculators, and even household tools all jumbled together in an avalanche of disorganization.

Out of sight, out of mind, right? Wrong. Studies have shown that disorganization affects our stress levels and that stress, in turn, affects our health. Even something as simple as scouring through your junk drawer on a regular basis can take its toll.

You might not see this disorganization every day – and you might forget about it in your conscious mind – but it’s always there at the back of your subconscious, nagging at you to clean it out.

That’s because a mess is in conflict with harmony. All you have to do to test the theory is check how you feel when your home is neat versus how you feel when it’s messy. To have the proper harmony in your home, you can’t just have things neat and organized on the surface. You have to be able to open a drawer without seeing years of a tangled pile of “stuff.

Getting your junk drawer (or drawers) organized is a simple task that doesn’t have to take a lot of time. First, you have to start with the right equipment for the job. You’ll need to get a Junk Drawer Organizer to help you tackle each one. You don’t want the cheap plastic ones that you can stuff full, which end up warping – because that defeats the purpose.

You’ll need a solid wood one that can handle the stuff you do have to keep. Because we don’t all have the same items in our junk drawers, we all need organizers that we can customize to fit our own needs. With this organizer, you can change the size and shape of the partitions by using the Divide-a-Space feature.

This organizer can be changed so that it gives you the perfect size no matter what size your junk drawer is because it has a system called the Loc-a-Ball. This organizer will get bigger if you need it to in order to perfectly go into the drawer. It’s sturdy – and because it’s made of wood, it’s going to last you for a long time.

When springtime starts to bring life back to your lawn, homeowners begin thinking about the best way to encourage new growth and maintain the outdoor space so that it’s attractive and well-kept.

You’ll need the right tools to do the job, and most people simply think of a lawn mower, when sizing up their needs. But a great lawn is more than just trimming the grass and weeds – it’s about nourishing the soil and seedlings so that your lawn has a beautiful green hue and is void of any invasive plants that choke out new growth.

Before you get started planting and nurturing, you’ll want to make sure you have the right watering system in place. Some homeowners spend a small fortune having an automated sprinkler system installed.

This is great if you can afford it. If not, you can still get the same results by investing in sprinklers that you set with timers. Another option is the manual on/off sprinklers you can buy. Some hoses will have a single spout, but there are those that help you with a larger area by having multiple spouts to spray the water over the lawn.

Lawn fertilizer is necessary if your soil isn’t up to par. You have a wide variety of options here. There are organic fertilizers or synthetic ones. Some release the nitrogen slowly, while others have a fast release.

You can distribute the fertilizer across your lawn using a broadcast spreader. Some people do it using other methods, including by hand. It might depend on how large your lawn is when you decide how to apply your fertilizer.

Sod or seed will be the next question you have to answer. You can buy seeds that get planted or broadcast across the soil and grow individually. Or, you can invest in sod, which are little plots of readymade lawn that you put down and watch take root on your soil.

Sod offers a sort of instant lawn. It’s far more expensive than seeded lawns. If you’re on a tight budget, then you might want to take the longer route and go with the seeding process.

A lawn aerator tool will be necessary to keep your lawn looking healthy. It helps your lawn get water to the roots, so they can grow strong and fight against disease. You can hire a professional to aerate your lawn, rent or buy a tool, or even use spike shoes that you wear while walking on your lawn. All have different levels of effectiveness.

Once your lawn is prepared, you’ll want to look at all of your weed killer options. Some are organic and some are not as eco-friendly. There are many types of lawn grass that fight against weeds, but some are more vulnerable than others.

Once your lawn seed or sod is in the ground, you’ll want to keep it looking beautiful as it grows and flourishes with the right lawn mower. There are all sorts of mowers on the market – from riding lawn mowers to push mowers. Some are electric, some use gas, and some even use the manual strength you have to offer.

Start by figuring out which type of lawn grass you want and then work your way backwards to determine which tools you need to help it go from seedling to plush lawn in the shortest amount of time possible.

[Image source: Rainworks Lawn Sprinklers]