I’m sure you have seen the infomercials about the Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer. Slim bodies getting slimmer juicing everything from apples to zucchini! Well, I couldn’t resist. I love the taste of fresh juice and this juicer was my husband’s birthday wish!

We made fresh juice for days. Carrot, apple juice, orange pineapple, apple and celery! The possibilities were endless! The juice was indeed excellent. The pulp can be used for cakes, muffins, breads and more. My 3 year old son even drank the vegetable juices.

I was concerned at first about the cleanup, but it was a breeze. It made it much easier to clean if I did it immediately after juicing. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher or hand washed. I will definitely recommend this juicer to anyone who has a desire to juice.

by Anise

Babies on the go, momma’s on the go and we’re using Pampers Clean’n Go wipes. We use these things all the time. I like to be frugal, but I like to use things that are convenient. I find Pampers Clean’n Go wipes to be worth the price of not using a wash cloth because of how easy they are to use. You open the container and pull one out like in a tissue box. They are so easy to pull out that my 22 month can do it all by herself.

You can use them on all parts of the body and they don’t have any kind of smell.

• Help wipe away dirt and germs
• Tear-free
• Dermatologically tested
• Made with pure water

You will find many packages of them all around my house and one in the diaper bag for on the go. I’m always wiping off play dough, food, dirt, everything the kids get into. Trust me this is a must-have in your home.

by Louise

Don’t throw out leftover this Christmas. The new Ziploc Double Freezer Bags with Fresh Shield will keep cooked meals fresh for weeks to come. They seal well and hold up over time. I have always found Ziploc products to be far more durable than other leading brands when it comes freshness. This new line of freezer bags is no exception. It provides double the protection to your food. I recently found out that you can determine how long foods can be kept fresh in the fridge, freezer and on the shelf using the Shelf Life 101 tool on Ziploc’s website.

Did you know that Americans spend an average of $10.16 during each fast-food shop? (See what you can learn when you look around.) Rather than stopping for food-to-go or lunch out, why not turn leftovers into snacks you take with you on-the-go. Ziploc has a wide range of products all designed to help you and your family. This line of products in a must-have in our household.

by Emily

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Do your shoes get scuffed fairly easily? The nice ones I wear to work and special places seem to get marked up quite often. It could be that clingy 6 year old who has issues with placing his feet on top of mine. I’ve tried the usual cans of polish before, but they always seemed to create more mess than it was worth. Recently though I came across Shine to Go shoe polish that comes in a unique portable little package.

It is beyond convenient and makes shining your shoes fun. All it requires is for you to open the package and rub the pre-applied conditioning polish that is already in the applicator (which is a cloth) on your shoes. One package will clean one pair of shoes.

The packages of polish are available in black, brown and clear. I am now carrying two packages in my purse so that when I’m at the office or when I look down and see that my shoes need to be polished it’s handy. Best of all the results look like a professional polished my shoes! This is a definite must have for everyone.

by Emily

The Bissell Spot Lifter Carpet Cleaner is a fantastic little cleaner for anyone with pets or kids that are always finding little spots on their carpet, but don’t need to clean the entire thing.

It is handheld, light and comfortable to use with an easily used sprayer to apply a cleaning solution and water mixture, a cleaner brush to get out tough stains and a vacuum head to suck up the dirt and grime. It is cordless and can easily run up to 15 minutes at full power before needing to be recharged, which is more than enough to spot clean. On top of that it is simple to clean, only requiring the removal of the 2 plastic tanks. The one that holds the cleaning solution and the one that is the collection tank for the dirty water come off the machine.

The Bissell Spot Lifter quickly works through tough spots in your carpet. It cleans the stains completely and even removes tough pet odors. With a large dog, two young children and a husband with a tendency to get dirty, the Spot Lifter has made my life easier. I no longer have to lug out the huge shampooer for a few small spots. It is very affordable, easy to use and best of all it works!

by Kim

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This is a strange must have item because pretty much everyone has it, but the one thing I absolutely cannot live without in my house is vinegar. Yes, plain, cheap, edible, good old vinegar is my must have. Every room in my house has a spray bottle filled with vinegar for cleaning.

I use it straight as an alternative to bleaches and other toxic cleaners on counters, floors, tables, carpets, toilets, walls and everything in between. You name it, I clean it with vinegar. I use it for meat juices, cat puke, dog pee, toddler pee, basic crumb wipe ups, booster seat tray disinfecting, laundry stain removal, cloth diaper deodorizing, window washing and weed killing.

I can’t think of a household chore requiring a liquid that I don’t use it for. I highly recommend saving your money and saving the earth by never purchasing a typical household cleaner again. Cancer be gone. Vinegar is where it’s at.

by Nicole

When cleaning up behind five pint size people, the last thing I want to think about is how long this is going to take me. With the Dirt Devil Broom Vac, I know that my job is going to be at least one step quicker. It is the ultimate broom to sweep over those fabulous squishy tiles that protect my kids heads from all things that go boom. Since it’s a broom & vacuum in one, it enables me to cover a larger area much more quickly. I like that. And my kids do too, since it’s them who get my leftover time!

The other fabulous feature is the Dirt Devil is bagless, lightweight and works on a rechargeable battery. I love being able to sweep up after a meal or activity without plugging into the wall. It’s easy to store and even easier to empty the contents into the trash.

by Jessica

The only way I will eat Velveeta is as a cheesy dip sauce. It is so addictive that you may need an intervention to keep you from eating the grocery store out of every package of Velveeta Cheese and Ro-Tel canned, diced tomatoes with lime juice and cilantro. I have been eating this cheese dip at my in-law’s house for a number of years now, but have never asked how it was made. At a party recently, I asked for the ingredients was quite thankful that I did.

For those times you want a bit of salty, spicy and cheesy wrapped into one snack; take some Velveeta Cheese and Ro-Tel, heat it up and enjoy. You may already know of this recipe, as it is available at the Kraft web site, but as someone who didn’t like to eat Velveeta, this is rather new to me. This new dip is a must have in our home!

by Laura

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I bought this stick style blender to make smoothies for my kids. Without even reading the user manual I was able to start enjoying the stick style blender. To say it is quick and easy is an understatement. I poured the yogurt, fresh fruit and milk into the three cup capacity mixing beaker and instantly created a delicious smoothie. The blending rod with the whisk attachment makes scrambling a dozen eggs a snap. I make homemade salad dressings, whipped butter and other fancy, velvety concoctions with no fuss at all.

This chopper is ideal for veggies, cheese, meats and other food processing. I willingly test drove the non-slip chopping bowl with the stick blending rod to create a ground Oreo pie crust in seconds. I put a pound of Oreo cookies in the bowl and it pulverized them into crumbs like fine sand. It took about two seconds to empty the handled bowl into the pie pan and a few more seconds to wash it and put it away. At this point in my demonstration I was already plotting what to prepare next, because I could not wait to use this system again.

Sure I have always had a secret crush on Wolfgang Puck. He has that sexy accent, adorable smile and is always making delicious meals, but now my love for him is personal. His product saves me precious time and energy, which allows me to long for him to join me in my very own kitchen.

Written by Helene, who is a “fly by the seat of her pants” mom with 6 kids, well really 7 if you count her husband. She is a die-hard bargain shopper, designer-clad domestic diva who writes reviews to maintain a sense of sanity and unleash her creative side. You can also keep up with their busy family at their blog.

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I have little time for myself in the mornings. In fact, I am usually trying to balance a cup of coffee in one hand and a toddler in the other. It’s not a pretty picture. I do however like to at least make an attempt each day at prettying myself up.

I find this daunting task a little bit easier with MAC Studio Fix. It’s a foundation and powder in one. Even if I just have time to sweep this on, I feel like I’ve got something on. Retailing at around $25 it’s reasonably priced. I find that it lasts me around 4-6 months and is a bargain!

by Jessica

There is nothing I hate more than a stinky dog. Seriously. This time of year when we let our dog outside and I use a dish towel to wipe her paws before I let her back in. Mostly because she gets so wet out in the rain and snow. Of course she also will dig and roll around in the dirt. So I welcomed Mrs. Meyers Pet Wipes into our home.

I had heard of this brand before, because they make a lot of all natural products for your home. The aromatherapeutic pet wipes are made with oatmeal extract to soothe your pet’s skin and a little vitamin E to protect their coat. The wipes are lightly scented and gentle enough to use around their eyes. You can actually use them all over their body and it does not leave any residue that needs to be washed off. There are 25 wipes in each container and they are well worth the price of under $5.

by Emily

Weber has always made a great grill. We’ve actually owned several different styles, but this past fall we purchased the Weber Baby Q to travel with. I don’t know what your needs are, but we when camp we only cook exactly what we will eat. This grill may be 14 inches tall, but it still offered a lot of cooking space inside.

The Baby Q has an adjustable regulator for heating and uses a 14.1 ounce propane cylinder (which is not included). The style and compact frame make it easy to take along to the beach or park, and even easier to store when not in use. My biggest problem with grills of any size has always been lighting them. This one has a push-button ignition that is wonderful! Even cleaning it is easy, because it has a non-stick grill. I’m thinking a woman must have designed this.

Weber makes several portable versions, but the Baby Q is the cheapest at around $130. I would highly recommend this version if you are looking for something light and don’t need to feed an army.

by Terry

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This thing is quiet. I mean dead quiet. In fact, I wasn’t even sure it was working at first because it really makes no sound at all. I waited until we got our first electric bill to see if it cost an arm and a leg to run. The answer is no, it’s not that bad. But the best part about the heater is its ability to heat the entire room, not just a section of it. From top to bottom, left to right, the whole room is a even temperature. It works so well that I don’t even have to keep it on the highest setting, which is a big deal after the last one I had. The only downside is that it is hot to touch, but I have a one year old and she has yet to hurt herself on it.

“Radiator-style heater that uses convection to silently circulate air throughout the room. It uses less energy because it cycles between wattages—doesn’t need to continue to run at full power to keep hot. It uses a water-based solution that is anti-corrosive and non-combustible.” Sounds like lots of mumbo jumbo right? So here is what I have to say about it, it’ll make more sense: “Awesome.”

If you take my advice and go buy one, be warned that it took about 24 hours to warm the room up, but it’s worth the wait!

Written by Andi, who teaches local high school students about abstaining from sex. She has also had two kids in 16 months. Andi’s husband thinks she needs to practice what she preaches. You can read about her adventures (or misadventures) in motherhood at her personal blog, Parenting 101.

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The Senseo® machine will brew a 4 ounce cup of coffee in 30 seconds or 8 ounces in 60 seconds. It does require you to purchase pre-measured coffee pods, but doing so eliminates the mess of scooping grounds. You can choose from many coffee flavors, including a Sumatra Blend and Colombia Blend which are wonderful, and some Barista Blends that are delicious. I’m hoping they develop some hot chocolate pods!

They have a couple flavors of tea, but recommend purchasing a separate pod holder for you machine. This will prevent you from mixing the tastes between coffee and tea (which could make an interesting flavor).

My husband likes stronger coffee and actually ended up using two pods per cup, so you may have to make a few cups to figure out what works best for your taste-buds. The pods are surprisingly affordable and available at most major retail stores, the Senseo® store and online at Amazon. In packages of ten it roughly equals under 40 cents a cup (dependent upon flavors).

I personally love the cylinder shape of this modern coffee maker and they are available in several colors. All of the removable parts are dishwasher safe, which makes clean-up a breeze. Senseo® offers silver pod canisters if you don’t want to keep the package out on the counter and a travel mug. Overall, they really thought out the features of this machine when designing it.

The Senseo® Single-Serve coffee machine retails for around $70, but if you go to Share Senseo® and complete a quick survey you can purchase the machine, package of coffee pods and storage canister, by paying only $15 for shipping and handling. It also includes five $20-off a machine purchase cards to pass along to others, so you can share the warmth!

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 5 year old son. They reside in Southern Indiana (a little too close to the Kentucky border). Someday she’d like to visit Intercourse, PA and have her picture taken with the welcome sign. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves free samples and trying new things!

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I admit to believing that a hairdryer is a hairdryer, and as long as it turns on and heat comes out it’s all good. I found out I was wrong when I opened the 1875 Watt Active Ionic Dryer from Bed Head. Have you ever heard of ion’s? I kind of recall my high school science teacher covering this…but that was a long time ago!

Ionic technology, as Bed Head refers to it, allows you to control your hair. On this hairdryer you can choose to use positive ions to open the cuticles which will allow maximum moisture absorption or use negative ions to seal-in the moisture. The Ionic Dryer also allows you to turn off the ion and use nothing at all. The fiber optic indicators change colors depending on which type of ions you are using and will make a neat light show in the bathroom.

So why would want ions in your hairdryer? If you suffer from frizzy hair or secretly hope for more shine then this is the new product you need! I was skeptical when I first read through the manual that ions could have anything to do with the way my hair performs. There seemed to be too many choices - 2 heats, 2 speeds, ions, cold shots, etc… It also included a volumizing finger defuser attachment that can soften the air flow. Turns out this new technology made a huge difference in my hair.

Although I use a shampoo that is specifically designed to give you more shine, when using the positive ions my hair felt shinier and softer. I can also attest to the fact that my hair was sleeker and less frizzy than it ever has been, even when I used it on rainy days. For the most part I have an oily scalp, so I never tried the negative ion’s because I figured sealing in extra moisture would only add to that problem. If you are in a hurry you can push the negative ion button for faster drying though.

The Active Ion Dryer retails for $85 and is well worth the price considering I spend that amount on hair salon treatments to achieve the same results. The entire new Bed Head line is designed to give you the best hair possible. They also sell styling products, such as the deep conditioning treatment, “Treat Me Right,” which is a peppermint hair mask that makes your scalp feel tingly.

Bed Head is giving one lucky Props and Pans reader a Dual Wave Iron from this collection that retails for $60. The Dual Waver can help you create beautiful waves in a tight or loose pattern and get you ready for all those Christmas pictures.

Leave a comment on this post detailing your worst hair blunder and you’ll be entered to win. For a double entry you can subscribe to our RSS feed. Contest ends Tuesday, December 11th as midnight (EST).

Written by Emily, who is a married working mother of a very energetic 5 year old son. They reside in Southern Indiana (a little too close to the Kentucky border). Someday she’d like to visit Intercourse, PA and have her picture taken with the welcome sign. She writes at her personal blog, Fenicle and loves free samples and trying new things!

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Blenders have not always been my friend. It’s probably because I’ve always bought cheaper blenders, trying to get by without tossing down serious cash.

But back when we picked up a good coffee pot we decided to get silly and round out some other small appliances, and a new blender was really in order.

But I should have known that a company famous for their tough tools would make a blender that doesn’t mess around. This is where the Black and Decker ProBlend 5 Speed Blender enters my life.

It says the features are:

• Powerful 550W motor to handle crushing ice, pureeing, blending and more
• 5 speeds plus separate Pulse and Ice Crush functions
• Sure-close lid with advanced grip
• Durable, chip-resistant 48-oz (1,420 ml) glass jar shows easy-to-read measurements in cups and liters
• 2-plane, dual-edge, stainless-steel blade design
• Durable die-cast, brushed stainless base is both sturdy and stylish
• Rubberized feet keep unit secure during use
• Jar and stainless-steel blade cutter are dishwasher safe

Now let me translate.

The jar is a great big measuring cup, which thrilled me WAY more than it should have, I know. It’s a glass jar as well, and so heavy without any liquid in it that I’m surprised I can lift it when it’s full. It decimates anything that goes into it and makes smooth wonderful drinks every time.

Cheap blenders throw of a terrible burning rubber smell when you really try to finish off those last big chunks of ice but not the beautiful Black and Decker blender. It WANTS you to turn it on and run it hard. It would probably also like to do some handiwork around the house it’s so tough.

I do not advocate appliances as gifts at the holidays, but if you are looking for something to help out with your holiday entertaining, then put this blender on your list.

Written by Gidge, who is a mother of a 4 1/2 year old boy and 3 year old twin boys. A transplanted Hoosier, die-hard Colts fan and professional call center manager, she likes long walks on the beach, penguins and playing ping-pong. Her turn-ons include sleep and silence.

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No matching towel sets, flatware, wine glasses or ANY of the things that all you folks who registered received as gifts.

The husband and I have muddled along for the past 10 years with towels I scavenged from my grandmother’s house when I moved out, complete with mismatched dishes and cups I picked up here and there. We’ve made do with the seven dollar coffee pots and toasters, buying a new one each year when the old one died.

We had this wacky idea a few weeks ago. Our coffee pot was nasty and it needed to be replaced. So when we wandered into the coffee pot aisle we thought. “What if we bought a good coffee pot? What if we spent more than SEVEN DOLLARS on a coffee pot?”

Enter Mr. Coffee. Mr. Coffee of my dreams. Mr. Coffee, I love you.

This coffee pot has so many bells and whistles that I actually had to read the instructions. It comes with a clock that not only tells time, it also tells you how old your coffee is after it’s been brewed. It’s got the option to be programmable, which I always claim to want but never remember to set.

But it’s cool. It BEEPS when it’s done brewing. It BEEPS when your coffee is an hour old and it’s shutting itself off. (This is optional, you can turn off the audible alarm).

There is a water filter to remove impurities from your tap water to make sure your coffee is the best possible flavor. You can also choose for it to brew your coffee strong vs. regular, which I love.

And the cleaning cycle…it HAS a cleaning cycle. As in, it cycles slowly to allow the chemical (or vinegar, if you like) time to dissolve to actually get the inside of the maker clean.

One thing that is a little cumbersome is that the water filter sits on top of the grounds basket. When you’re stumbling around making coffee in the morning because you were too lazy to program the pot the night before it’s just an annoying little thing. You have to take it off to fill the basket and you have to remember to put it back on top. Seems like it might make more sense if it were part of the lid.

The other thing that is a little weird is the way the lid works. It is huge when you open it to get to the basket and it’s impossible to even open it under the cabinets, because the entire pot has to come way out from under the kitchen cabinets in order to open the lid. It’s just awkward in a coffee maker that is so sleek and efficient in other ways.

Despite the funkiness of the lid and the water filter, I love this coffee maker. It retails between $40-$50 and is worth every penny. It makes me wonder what on earth do the makers that cost $100 or more do?

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