It's a day I won't forget.  The day the whole family stood at Sam's watching a demonstration on how to make tortilla soup in a souped-up blender when my husband proclaimed, "I would cook dinner with that!"  I dont know about you, but having my husband offer to cook anything that doesn't require taking it out of a box and putting it on the oven rack or flipping it with tongs on the grill is close to a miracle, so my ears perked up on this one!

This miracle-producing product was the Vitamix, which is, in simple terms, a mega-blender.  What makes the Vitamix different from a normal blender or other brands on the market, is its powerful motor and stainless steel blades.  This beauty can make smoothies, ice cream, hot soup (I said HOT SOUP-it actually heats the soup while its blending!), hummus, salad dressing, peanut butter, pasta sauce - you name it.  You'll find it used in restaurants and on the Food Network all the time.  I have personally seen it used around town at Hubbell and Hudson, Dairy Queen, Starbucks and Jamba Juice. 

I must admit, it's not cheap.  But let me tell you, my husband is an avid researcher.  He read every review, watched every You Tube video and called Vitamix a million times.  What he discovered is that Vitamix will sell certified, reconditioned models for a cheaper price (about $150 less) than a brand-new model that still comes with a warranty, cookbook and looks brand new.  Another nice option offered by Vitamix their payment plan options.  We chose to pay in two installments which was a nice way to keep the cost feel more reasonable.  

So, a few weeks later, my husband's third child arrived at the door.  I must say, this mega-blender has changed our lives and I'm happy to report that he has kept his word and does cook with it often and makes awesome, healthy smoothies for us daily. 

I would recommend this product to anyone who is interested in eating healthy, has food allergies, is trying to get away from processed foods or just wants to simplify the meal-making process.  There are tons of recipes and ideas for using the Vitamix and it's such a great way to get your family their fruits and veggies. 

To learn more about Vitamix, visit their website at www.vitamix.com or search your cable guide, theres always a great demo on the HSN!  Youll be sold!  

If your evenings are chaotic and disorganized, you and your kids need a bedtime routine. The components of a routine will vary from family to family, but being consistent is important for everyone in the family. Ultimately, you should strive to balance four important things:

To borrow a line from someone with a very interesting way of words (my friend’s five-year-old daughter, Tangie), Sarah McLachlan’s newly released CD “Laws of Illusion” is “top of the sundae.” Usually when Tangie says “top of the sundae” it doesn’t make much sense. In this case, however, it’s very much on point. Let me explain… the top of a sundae is the rich chocolate syrup, the whipped cream, the juicy cherry… it’s the most satisfying part, the part that makes the dessert interesting (as if the ice cream alone isn’t good enough), the stuff of which we can never seem to get enough.

But enough about dessert… Sarah McLachlan is back, and her heartfelt songs are as delicious and flavorful as they were seven years ago.