I was recovering from surgery in June when it was apparently ice cream week on the Food Network. I sat and drooled, unable to eat anything fatty, as they showed you how to make every kind of ice cream, sorbet and gelato under the sun. Show after show taunted me until my sweet husband surprised me one evening – returning from the store with a compact little ice cream maker from Hamilton Beach.

Super sleek and amazingly easy to use, we’ve become ice cream making addicts. No rock salt or ice required, this machine has an inner core that remains frozen and you simply insert it, dump in your ingredients and turn it on. In approximately 20 minutes you’ve got fresh delicious homemade ice cream. It makes exactly enough for us to share and we’ve all enjoyed the adventure of trying out ingredients and different flavors. We’ve tried fruits as well as shaved chocolate and flavors in addition to making old fashioned custard style which was exquisite and velvety.

If you want to try home made ice cream without the crazy amount of work involved – this machine is a must have.

by Gidge

I should apply to be a paid spokesman for Terro Ant Killer. The last three springs I have the same thing happen and I’m sure next year will be no exception. The ants will return just as they do every spring in Indiana. I will lay out the Terro buffet just as I do every spring in Indiana. This year, I laid down my little square and within 2 minutes it looked like this picture. Gross, huh? I agree. But not as gross as having ants crawl all over your cabinets and floor.

My husband says I’m just feeding the ants and I agree. In fact, I’m quite OK with that. It’s obvious they are going to be eating at my house every spring, so I’d rather them eat poison in a 2 square inch section of the house as opposed to every cabinet with food in it. If you have had ants in the past and expect them back in the spring, be ready. Grab a bottle of the Terro liquid and invite them on over to the buffet. You’ll be glad you did.

by Perri

• Pure, sanitized warm mist—kills up to 99.999% of germs, mold and bacteria in the water
• Worry-free, healthful moisture for you and your family
• Better breathing everyday
• No filters to buy or replace—ever!
• Use with Vicks VapoSteam or Kaz Inhalant
• Patented ultraviolet light process eradicates water bred germs
• Adjustable humidity control
• Three-year warranty
• 2 tanks for easy filling and longer run times
• 2-gallon capacity; operates up to 24 hours

The whole no germ thing was really exciting, especially since I have a kid who seems to get sick at the drop of a hat. So I filled that tanks, plugged it in and was immediately put off by how bright the light is on it. I literally have duct tape over the light and it still illuminates a large area around it.

Further more, it is loud. It sounds like you are sitting next to a hot spring, or a whirl pool, between the sound and the light is was like being in a spa on Jupiter. After that I found that the steam really is hot, not warm, but hot. Strike three, I was almost ready to pan it right there. I used it for a few nights and hated it. Here comes the but… I bought some of the VapoSteam for it. VapoSteam is like VapoRub only it is a liquid that goes into a cup on the humidifier and then it is diffused into the room.

My husband and I have started referring to it as “liquid crack”, because we simply can’t get enough of it. It makes us both breath easier, helps alleviate coughs and is just fantastic in general. So the GermFree Humidifier was  almost panned, but was saved by the VapoSteam! It is well worth the price of around $80 to have in your household. If anyone at Vicks reads this and feels the need give me a lifetime supply of VapoSteam, that would be swell.

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.

The Oral B not only comes with several brushes, but there are also additional brushes available for your specialized needs. My husband, who has been going through toothbrushes at the rate of one a month for as long as I’ve known him never seemed to believe me when I told him he was brushing too hard. However, let the Visual Pressure Sensor tell him that and he’s a believer! The toothbrush has a built in timer so you know when you’ve brushed long enough.

One of the included brushes has a polishing head – the kind the hygienist uses to clean your teeth. I can tell a huge difference in my husband’s coffee stained teeth after he’s used it for several weeks. Be forewarned. The power this toothbrush packs is enormous! Having bought a “professional” toothbrush, I was astonished at the power and rotation the Triumph offered. It flosses, polishes, massages and gently sweeps away plaque. Your gum’s will be healthier and your mouth will thank you.

There is a handy covered storage case, a rechargeable unit and it fits nicely in your hand when you’re brushing. One bit of advice I learned right away. Look for replacement brushes on eBay as opposed to your local discount stores. That’s what I did and saved almost two-thirds of the cost of what I would have paid at Wal-Mart. There were also several different types of brushes available on Amazon.

My review for the Triumph could not be any higher. I count myself lucky that I was chosen to receive this fabulous toothbrush. Thanks Oral B!

Written by Perri, a homeschooling mom of 6 kids – 2 that are grown and out of the house and 4 younger ones who help wreck and clean the house. Perri also has two precious grandchildren. She spends a lot of time doing ministries with her church, volunteering in the community and baking a mean cheesecake. She blogs about her family’s life at My Life in Bits & Pieces.

As a last thought, maybe “crap recommendation” was a bit strong regarding my former dentist’s thoughts that I should buy a Rotadent. I’m sure I can use it to scrub the shower grout.

The Oral B Triumph is by far the best toothbrush I have ever used. Ever. I remembered electric toothbrushes as clunky and ineffective, but obviously that is no longer the case. Straight from the horse’s mouth here are a few things Oral B says the toothbrush will do:

• Improves gum health: Helps prevent and reverse gingivitis
• Provides ultimate plaque removal
• Delivers superior teeth whitening and polishing action in 21 days
• Penetrates between teeth to sweep away plaque for a floss-like clean
• Helps reduce excessive brushing force, which can lead to gum recession, by up to 88% in only 30 days
• Guaranteed better checkups, or your money back
• Helps you brush for two minutes

I don’t know about the better checkup, but the rest I agree with completely. When is the last time a product actually did what it claimed? My husband and I both used it (more on this later) and the whitening was more noticeable for him, but what I liked most was the plaque removal. It really was very effective. The timer also makes the whole toothbrush buzz when it’s time to switch quadrants of the mouth, even if you are in a different room, ensuring that you brush the whole two minutes. I don’t have a single bad thing to say about the performance of this toothbrush. It is simply awesome.

That being said, it is also very expensive. I just don’t know anyone willing to drop $130 on a toothbrush. And while one of the cool features of the toothbrush is that it lets you know when it’s time to change the brush head, the new ones cost over $10 in the store. Each. So for my husband to use it too was more money, and then in three months we are looking at another $20 to replace them. That’s $80/year in toothbrush heads alone for just two people! We did find some heads on eBay that were cheaper, but who wants to go online and hope you can get lucky on ebay every 3 months?

Really I’m stumped on what to summarize this product as. Is it a prop? Is it a pan? I think it’s both. The performance can not be faulted, it is a wonderful product that could really revolutionize the way people brush thier teeth. The problem is that the people have to be able to afford it first!

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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!