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Hello! I'm Suzannah, a serious DIYer and mom of two little ones. Follow along with my DIY fixer upper house renovations, sewing and crafty projects, real food recipes, and de-stressing goals.
I believe you can love your home just the way it is, AND have the power to design and make big changes to make it better.
I'm also the author of DIY Wardrobe Makeovers!

I can't believe I just bought these.

I never do this...
But I've been wanting some nice kitchen stuffs for a loooong time.  And this Christmas came, and I decided I needed to get myself a present!  Well, get us a couple of presents.

I got an amazing Boxing Day sale deal on these from Amazon:

Cuisinart, stainless steel, 10-piece set... our current pots/pans collection is made up entirely of these items:

  • A scraped-up, very old Calphalon skillet
  • A very dented little nonstick pot and lid
  • An old Revereware skillet
  • A huge Revereware pot with no lid
And we keep them IN the stove, because we have no cabinet space.  So this lovely shiny new set I just ordered may have to stay mostly in the box until we buy our house (soon, I hope!!).


But what I'm really excited about is this: since I started a totally new diet about two years ago, I've wanted a really great blender for smoothies, soups, etc.  Vita-Mixes are super expensive but amazing.  But I got a great deal on this one, too--Amazon Warehouse Deals!  I am over-the-moon excited that I ordered this.


AAAAAAH!!!!!!

I can't wait to use it!  My husband and I are both SO excited to have Jamba Juice-like smoothies in the comfort of our own home.  Ohhh, the possibilities...

Any tips on any of my new goodies, I'd love to hear them!  Or if you've recently treated yourself after Christmas...

23 comments

  1. Be careful that your pots are not made in china! My mom bought an all-clad pot like that and it rusted in one day.

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  2. We have a blend tec! they are great :)

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  3. so i just watched this documentary (on netflix) called fat, sick, and nearly dead. this guy went on a 'juicer' diet. what an amazing and inspiring story. even since ive wanted a juicer so i could make those uber healthy juices/smoothies. good luck. keep us posted on how they turn out and maybe some good recipes!!!

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  4. Bar Keepers Friend is the best cleaner to use on those stainless pots and pans. I usually buy mine at Bed, Bath & Beyond.

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  5. We have a vitamix too, they're pretty bombproof. The only thing I would say is read the book that comes with it...we've had ours around 2 years and I still can't get hubby to use full power for fruit blitzing, then he wonders why the pips survive in his blends????? :)

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  6. Just curious, what kind of a diet did you go on?

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  7. I have that exact pots and pan set! I was worried early on that it would be hard to take care of them, but actually they're super low maintenance. My tip would be to soak the pans as soon as you're done cooking with some hot soapy water. The sooner the better makes them easier to clean.

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  8. someone else said bar keepers friend! This stuff is amazing at keeping your pans looking new!

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  9. Several years ago, we too were working with mismatched, worn out cookware. I began collecting (on sale, ebay, etc.) All-clad stainless cookware. I absolutely love it! With cookware, like shoes, you get what you pay for.
    The best tip I have for using stainless cookware, is to have Bar Keeper's Friend on hand at all times. It is a cleanser that doesn'nt scratch and works wonderfully on stainless and other surfaces to keep them looking and working like new. Enjoy your new cookware! What delicous culinary masterpiece will you create first?

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  10. We use our Vitamix every day.

    I was hesitant at first, but after going through so many other blenders, it is well worth it!

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  11. I just impulse bought those pans for my husband's birthday! Great price-thank you!!

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  12. Oh I'll add to the Vitamix love here too! Well done for treating yourself. You won't regret it. We make breakfast smoothies every day using soaked oats, fresh and/or frozen fruit, a few prunes, a little soy milk, maybe a dash of cinnamon. You can also add in greens like kale or spinach or avocado. It makes the easiest pesto, and perhaps the yummiest thing I invented was mango and raspberry sorbet: the flesh of a fresh mango, frozen raspberries (say a cup), a tray of icecubes and a couple of dessertspoons of sugar. Use the tamper (we were a bit scared by that at first) and in a minute you'll have delicious sorbet!

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  13. Anonymous12/29/2011

    We use our Vitamix everyday. Save old bananas and freeze them in half on a cookie sheet. Store in freezer bags once frozen. Add to smoothie each morning with other juice/soymilk and fruit. Yummy.
    The secret to a really good smoothie is the frozen banana. I know cause I used to work at Jamba.

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  14. Awesome comments, readers!! I am really excited for the VitaMix, cuz I get frustrated with our (prety good) Cuisinart blender when I make smoothies...

    And the pans!! I'm curious, cuz I saw it advertised with the pans, how exactly do you use Bar Keeper's Friend? Before you use dish soap? After? ??

    @Azirenna, I have a post coming up to answer that very question!

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    1. Use dish soap to get most of the junk off, then a sprinkle of bar keepers and a swipe or two with the rag will keep them looking fabulous!! For really gunked on residue, I will let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub if need be.

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  15. The vitamix is SO awesome! YOu can even make soup in it! My husband and I are now using it for the juice fast "reboot" from Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. SO many uses for the Vitamix!

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  16. A good blender is not a splurge, it's a NECESSITY! Congrats on your fun new kitchen purchases :-)

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  17. I just bought myself a brand new Breville Scraper Mixer in the post Christmas sales. I love cooking cakes but at the moment I don't even have a hand mixer so I'm pretty excited about my new purchase. The only problem is that it is so hot at the moment I haven't had a chance to use it as I don't want to heat up the house with the oven.

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  18. I have those same pots and pans, and I LOOOOOOVEEEE them! We cook every single day, and these puppies are great. The handles don't get hot. The lids seal well. Adore. :) Enjoy!

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  19. i bought myself a little something something too; a kitchenaid food processor! i love it.

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  20. So glad to hear you guys like the kitchen goodies!! Our blender has arrive and we are stoked...

    @Tammy, just watched that movie on Hulu, it was crazy! Husband and I want to try a smoothie cleanse sometime for a few days--wonder what it would be like!

    @maggie, good purchase, I use my food processor all. the. time...!

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  21. Anonymous1/04/2012

    Suzannah, I use Bar Keeper's Friend for my stainless pots and pans, too. I always wash mine and remove as much food residue as I can with dish soap first, then use BKF, then rinse with soapy water again. I think this is what the can says to do, too. I like the powder form; think it also comes in a liquid.

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