today was busier than most wednesdays.. i am constantly trying to mark things off my to-do list, both at work and my personal one, before i head out of town.
after a jam packed day at the office, i headed to the gym for a livefit workout. i am currently pulling workouts from week 12 of livefit trainer. last week i was pulling workouts from week 10. there is no real rhyme or reason to my workout schedule right now.. the important thing is that i am getting to the gym and getting it done. i did modify this workout a bit because the gym was crowded, but i focused on all the same body parts as the original workout called for.
- barbell deadlift: 60# x 20 reps
- bent over barbell row: 40# x 20 reps
- assisted wide grip pull up: 100# assistance x 20 reps
- close grip seated row: 60# x 20 reps
- hyperextension: 25# plate (holding) x 20 reps
- captain’s chair leg raises: body weight x 20 reps
- bicycle crunches: body weight x 20 reps each side, alternating
i finished off my workout with 30 minutes on the stationary bike while reading SELF. gosh, what a shitty magazine, it’s so boring. won’t be renewing my subscription.
i had errands to run and didn’t get home til about 8:30, so dinner was a late one tonight.. we didn’t eat until after 9 PM. that’s how things are in this house most of the time! i picked the quickest and easiest meal ever: soup & sandwiches.
creamy tomato soup and turkey, goat cheese, and cheddar paninis, to be exact.
i love this panini press! it was a gift from my good friend, danica.
speaking of appliances.. i thought it would be a great time for another round of things i use & love! this installment is electric appliances.
we have a LOT of appliances. more than necessary, that’s for sure. and more than we use. there are a few appliances in the garage, collecting dust. but there are a handful that i use regularly, some daily! here they are.
kitchen aid stand mixer.
this was actually given to me. it used to be marshall’s grandmas. she passed away a few months after we started dating and his grandpa was nice enough to give me the mixer. i know i lucked out since these appliances are around $300. with the amount of baking i do, this thing comes in SO handy. it also has a lot of functions and attachments that i don’t utilize.. for instance: it can make bread dough or pasta. maybe one of these days i will hop on one of those wagons. just not today. tomorrow doesn’t look good either.
coffee grinder & electric kettle.
i use these two appliances every single morning! i brew my coffee using a french press, so fresh ground coffee and quick boiling water are key components. the grinder is a cusinart ($50) and the kettle is from costco–it was around $25.
food processor.
marshall got me this for our first dating anniversary back in 2008. i probably don’t use this as much as i should, only because i am lazy. yes, that’s what it comes down to. pulling it out and using it to chop things isn’t ideal. however, this appliance is awesome for making homemade hummus, peanut butter, salsa, sauces, and.. the way i use it the most.. to make my own ground chicken/turkey/beef. WAY better than buying it pre-ground at the grocery store! i was even too lazy to pull it out for a photo, so the one above is recycled from an old post.
mini food chopper.
marshall just barely got me this little guy for christmas because i was always complaining about pulling the big food processor out for small tasks. this appliance has been great so far! i have used it at least a dozen times since christmas. i make my own bread crumbs, chop vegetables, and make graham cracker crust for my protein cheesecakes that i have been making like crazy. yes, recipe coming soon.
vitamix.
(photo circa march 2010)
oh.. my vitamix. a hand-me-down from momma b over five years ago. i have used this over and over and over to make hundreds of smoothies. however, i know it can do a lot more. the way people talk about vitamixes, you’d think they could fold your laundry and find a cure for cancer. or at least make you soup. but i just use it for smoothies, protein ice cream, and the occasional batch of mama pea’s mmm sauce.
on the downside, i was blending up a shake the other day.. sunday, i think it was.. and SPARKS started flying from the base of my blender.. where the base and container connect. i quickly turned it off and checked out the situation. looks like a metal whosamawhat broke off the thingamajig and caused sparks to fly. yikes. check out the aftermath:
so now i am in the market for a new blender.. however, my friend casey pointed out that i might have a warranty on the ol’ vitamix. after all your tips on my last post about how i could have taken my buyer’s remorse bedspread back to kohl’s, used and all, i think i should look into this warranty thing before dropping another $400 on a blender.
well, i could keep going about the appliances i use and love.. but i think six is enough for tonight. looking at that list, i realized i lucked out quite a bit. of all the appliances i named, i only bought one myself (the kettle.) the rest were gifts or hand-me-downs. goes to show that appliances make great gifts!
in case you want to check the other installments of things i use & love out.. here they are:
check ya later alligators!
Qs~
1. what is your most used electric appliance?
2. what appliance is on your wish list?
xo. janetha g.
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I rarely eat dinner before 9 PM…glad I’m not the only one!
Not a big kitchen gadget person, but I do depend on my coffee maker daily, and get good use out of my little Cuisinart chopper thingy. Maybe if I had a stand mixer I’d bake more often.
Nice job on the wide grip lat pulldowns. I just got back from the gym, too. Was hard for me to go this evening. I get such a better workout first thing in the morn. But my priorities have been catching up on my sleep.
I wish someone would hand me down a Vitamix. Would definitely use that. As for my food processor, its catching dust bunnies.
My favorite tool is an avocado plastic tool I got for free. Its an awesome little gadget. Thanks California Avocado Co. ;)
I wish I could just bite the bullet and workout in the AM, but I have zero energy and actually get it done better at night.
Lovee my kitchen aid stand mixeer! :)
See!!!!!
I do need to get married so I can be on a registry and get all those things! If there are any men out there reading J bean’s blog and want to “marry” me, I could totally use the kitchen loot!
Oh and health insurance ;)
Haha.. I wonder if you can just register for any event.. like Leap Day.
I dont really use kitchen tools beside the microwave, my mom’s hand mixer, our egg poacher, and toaster!
I know that my mom has a stand mixer, vitamix, and other “cool” tools, but I just am not a big cook myself. :(
Most used electric appliance would probably be my blender. Closely followed by my kettle…what can I say I like my cold smoothies post workout and hot drinks to wind down at night. Appliance on my wishlist would have to be a food processor. I have a mini one but the motor is starting to give out on me!
I am an appliance fiend!!! So much that I have all of the above mentioned machines. That is so sad about your Vitamix! I use mine everyday, and I would die without it! (dramatic much?)
I like these questions.
My most used appliance is easily my toaster oven. I live alone and it sometimes seems like a waste to turn on a big oven to cook a single chicken breast or a potato. I assume it saves electricity and doesn’t heat my apartment up as much. I also use it to toast bagels and frozen waffles too (super tiny apartment with no kitchen space means everything needs to multi-task)
My wish list appliance is a juicer. If we are playing the wishing game I would choose to live in an apartment with a larger kitchen to house an assortment of kitchen appliances.
I have way too many appliances as well. My favorites are my Bamix hand blender, my toaster oven, electric kettle, food processor and stand mixer. If you’d asked a month ago I would have said my T-Fal Actifry but over the course of a year I had three of it’s components break and last week it died. It made fries and roasted veggies, nuts and chicken wings beautifully but with a $300 price tag it was not worth it. I would buy one again in a heartbeat if they made the quality of the parts more durable. I would have returned it but I could not find the receipt (my bad)
Girl. Call the Vita-Mix people. They are the nicest little ladies in the middle of Ohio where VM is located. They will HELP you. They will likely overnight you the parts, and b/c it’s under warranty (some things forever, some things more limited) but they will send you info on how to send back the other one and they will work with you. I cannot speak highly enough for their cust svc people when I blew up my Vitamix in the first week of owning it!
Oh I feel for you with the blender situation.
Mine was my most used appliance, but it was a cheap one and died recently. I really miss it. Saving now for a Vitamix.
any more hand me downs back there? i miss my blender and food processor. They are home in TX. for now I am obsessed with my mother in law’s new kettle. It brews so fast! plus i am easily entertained.
I love these posts! On my wish list, all the above (except the coffe appliance)! Right now the two appliance I use are a small kitchen aide blender and a hand mixer for things like baking. I need a vitamix.
They have a PURPLE mixer at Macy’s that I think is so cool but would never match any of my decor and too heavy to be lugging in and out.. I need my parents mixer that only gets used when I’m home, for the last 10 years.
Every time you make paninis I want a press!
We also have a huge toaster oven in storage that can cook 2 16′ pizzas.. I can’t wait to use it, I like the toaster oven for all things! Barbara’s family doesn’t believe in toast, so they don’t even own a toaster.. It’s crazy. Thank god for work toatsers.
I used to read Self all the time. /i’m not sure if its me or the magazine that changed, but I feel the same way. Mmmm soup. I can’t be without my stand mixer and grind and brew. I also have lots of love for my electric skillet and baby food maker. Oh oh and magic bullet!
My favourite kitchen appliance is definitely our kitchen robot – food processor and blender at once! I use it for many things.
I was literally reading this post while drinking a green protein smoothie-made with my Vitamix! I received this as a b-day gift last year and have made smoothies, ice cream sauces, soup, powdered sugar and oat flour. This thing is awesome.
My next two most used is our kitchenaid mixer and the coffee maker. So, I really agree with your choices!
I agree that you should call the friendly Vitamix ladies! They really are so nice! A few months ago, I was blending something really thick and it started to smell funny and just shut off. I thought I broke it, but when I called the nice lady explained that it overheated and shut off automatically as a safety feature and I was fine to go ahead and use it. But there was no making me feel dumb or anything.
My most used appliances are:
Vitamix
Bread baker (actually my dad is the official bread baker, I usually just eat it ;) )
Appliances I’m wishing for:
a juicer
a real dehydrator (I have one, but it’s falling apart because it’s cheaply made)
food processor
I would honestly just call up the company and explain the situation – the Husband and I just did that with our expensive coffee maker and they sent us a new one! Yipee!!
And look at you mrs. “i’m buff and use heavy weights”!!! PS – How long do the phase three workouts take you? Just planning ahead for someday!
Haha.. no. Those are the light weights because of the high reps! In phase 2, you lift heavy and do 8 reps x 4 sets.. then in phase 3 you move to light weights/high reps (the cutting phase) and that really makes your muscles pop instead of grow. Phase 3 varies in time. The first 2 weeks will kill you.. the workouts take around 1.5-2 hours depending on your gym. If it’s slow, you can get out of there in 1.5 hours (1 hour lifting, 30 min sprints).. then in weeks 11 & 12 the workouts are short! usually less than an hour, maybe an hour 15 max.
Oh no on the vitamix! I hope there is a warranty on that baby! I love mine so much too, it changed my smoothies forever : )
Happy Thursday! <3
it’s a tossup between my stand mixer and my food processor…but i’d do just about anything to get a vitamix all up in our kitchen!
I love my KitchenAid Mixer! My fiance’s parents got it for us as an engagement gift. I love that thing! :) I definitely would like a food processor and a Vitamix. That Vitamix seems awesome! I hope you are able to get it repaired or replaced!
Girl, I am so on the same page with all of the appliances. I love my food processor but so often I am too lazy to pull it out, plug it in and actually use it. And let’s not talk about the clean up part. Ugh, sometimes it’s just so much easier to use a knife. And I swear I would drink so many more protein smoothies if I didn’t have to take out the blender and clean it.
Oi, I have way too many appliances and gadgets. Everything from an egg poacher to a milk frother. I think my BF’s fave is the panini press (same one as yours) that gets used on the daily.
My fave? I don’t use it much – but probably the rice cooker. It just works so well. And it’s from Japan, so when it’s done cooking, it sings Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. So cute!
I adore my Kitchen Aid mixer! I think I used it almost once a week during the holidays, sometimes more. I also have a mini chopper which is really handy when making food for two. :) I’d love to get a better blender, ours blows!
I would love a VitaMix, but it’s just not in my budget. I bought a Ninja Kitchen System instead and it has been awesome! I think it was $160 at Bed Bath and Beyond and I had a 20% off coupon. I use it for all the same stuff you do. Good luck!
Probably my food processor gets the most use. I have a hand-me-down Vitamix too but I am always afraid that I’m going to break it. Plus, I just don’t eat a ton of smoothies.
I use my Vitamix on a daily basis. Sometime 3-4 times a day. My other top two appliances are my immersion blender (well, mostly the chopper attachment) which would be similar to your mini-chopper and my convection toaster oven. I totally have my bridal shower and wedding to thank for a bunch of appliances that I love, even if I rarely use them.
And like you said- I love my food processor, but hate actually lugging it out of the cabinet. (I also hate cleaning it….)
And i have the same coffee bean grinder- I’ve gone through a few and that one is the best!
And your workout looks awesome!
Honestly soup and sandwich has to be one of the best combos! I use my blender a lot for smoothies and stuff. A vitamix would be heaven!
like melissa, i use the broiler/toaster oven for EVERYTHING! it bakes and toasts everything from fimo gauge earrings to quiche. the kitchen in my apartment is the size of a broom closet ;D
someday I’d love to have a juicerAND a vitamix.
on NYE I rang in the new year at a party with both a juicer and a vitamix. we made cashew nut butter, hummus, amazing juice, and some crazy ‘pancakes’ from the juicer pulp. soooo delish. everybody should try it! We made the pulp into patties (by hand of course), then fried them (with a bit of olive oil) in a cast iron skillet.
soooo……
if the whole vitamix warranty thing doesn’t work out….. and yours is ‘broken’ forever…..please contact me. my bf is an equipment designer/fabricator, and he’ d love to inherit momma B’s old broken vitamixer and try to give it new life.
My Ninja is definitely my most used . I use it several times a day for smoothies/ice cream. I also use my coffee grinder and coffee maker but not daily – I have no time in morning so McDonalds coffee it is. The foreman grill, immersion blender and toaster/oven are used but not as often as I’d like. I’m just lazy! Oh and I do use my electric kettle for tea/hot chocolate.
I hope your Vitamix warranty works out for you – 400 bucks is alot!
Haha, does soup put you in the mood for things you love? (You had soup in 3 of your 4 “things I love” posts, and Marshall even had soup and a sandwich in one!) Thanks for sharing the great tips. It’s always nice to get good, honest recommendations for new products to use.
I use 2 appliances most:
– Our coffee maker every morning (occasionally that becomes the afternoon if we don’t get up in time for the morning….)
– My magic bullet for smoothies usually at least once a day, more often during the summer when they don’t make me freeze
Wishlist:
– Maybe a vitamix or a super fancy espresso machine =)
ahahaha i am laughing so hard right now. soup MUST put me in the mood for love! that’s awesome, great observation! weird.
I am OBSSESSED with my panini maker. We got it as a Christmas gift and at first I was like ok this is just a George foreman. I was so wrong. I always say any sandwich made into a panini is just that much better.
Pumpernickel bread on a panini = amazing
I kinda want a grilled cheese sandwich for breakfast after seeing yours. :-) I also want a vita mix…so sorry yours broke!
I think my food processor is the most used right now, that has a permanent spot on my counter to ensure I’m not having to haul it out every time. It’s HUGE!! Beside that is my blender, which is technically a beverage blender (not vitamix) and works wonders – it was a wedding gift and it’s over 10 years old (and used A LOT!). Third place goes to my stand mixer – I just don’t use it as often as the other two, but it really is amazing!
I use my mini food processor quite a bit. Also, my grill pan. On my wish list is a Blendtec!
your vitamix is trying to kill you.
i think you need a ninja chopper. although, if it tried to kill you, you’d never see it coming.
I use my immersion blender all the time for soups and a rice cooker is definitely on my wish list.
I’ve got that Cuisinart panini press! mine is also a griddle if you flip the blades over.. it’s absolutely amazing.
What kind of panini press is that? I might be in the market for one…trying to decide whether we have room for one….more…appliance… those sandwiches look very yummy though!
My most used appliance is probably just my toaster because I use it at least one or twice a day.
I actually got a panini press for Christmas and gave it away because I didn’t think I would use it. Now you’re making me rethink that decision :-)
I’m glad you said that about SELF. I think it’s gone way downhill since I started reading it, either that, or I’ve grown up in the past 5 years. Probably the latter. I’m pissed because it renewed itself via my credit card that I had used ONCE to renew a few years ago. I didn’t ask them to renew it, but there it was, the charge from them. I’m going to call them and complain. I want a subscription to Runner’s World again. Loved that mag.
SELF mag really does nothing for me either. Oxygen is my fave! Its like Christmas when that comes in the mail hahah. My favorite is definitely the vita mix- I use it daily!
Hi Janetha! I love your blog! I saw the Zero Scale on here and decided to order it. I love it, but have one question: when I’m ready, I would like to know how much I actually weigh and I haven’t figured out how to switch the setting on the Zero Scale. Do you have any idea how?
Yes! Aside from the four user functions, there is also a “guest function” where it will tell you your weight. I am not at home where my user manual is, but if you look in the manual it should tell you how to use the guest setting. I am pretty sure you just have to tap it a certain number of times. Let me know if you can’t figure it out, and I will check for you when I get home. Thank you for reading, Kelsey!
You should peep the Ninja blender, I got mine at Target for a bridal shower gift and it’s pretty awesome, especially for smoothies.
And I am definitely a daily coffee grinder user, as well as a frequenter of the immersion blender. I make a lot of soup. It’s a sickness.
i think i need a vitamix…maybe xmas next yr or bday? or valentines day? haha
my most used appliance is definitely my vitamix. i use it 1-2x daily! my fave new appliance is the juicer, it’s def not the most expensive thing but it works just fine! i don’t juice enough to make it ‘industrial’ style ha. so right now i have no appliances on my wish list. we have a galley style kitchen and not nearly enough counter space as it is so i better not get anything else!
Phone Vitamix! One day I was making a smoothie and it suddenly started smelling like something was burning and my Vitamix was really hot. They just had to send me a little replacement part for the base of the blender and it has worked great since! Good luck!
Thanks for the tip, I will give them a ring!
I’d have to say my most used appliance is my KitchenAid mixer, as well…I caved in and bought one last year and I am in appliance-love. I use it at LEAST once a week. Second most used appliance is probably our coffee grinder…we use a French press for coffee in the mornings, too! Mmm, delicious.
I almost want to cry over the death of your vitamix! I want one of those so bad! I always stand around the booth when they demo them and wait for the samples… I’m such a bum :)
Haha, I get SO sucked into those demos at Costco!!
I actually bust out and use my food processor 4 times a week. I recently timed myself, and if I get it out, shred an apple (for my raw cereal) rinse it and put it away, it’s less than 5 minutes. I think it just seems like it takes forever because it’s so clunky.
That, and I really really really hate grating/sghredding things by hand.
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