Because the lower level is halfway in the ground it gets pretty cold down there and we have tried  number of different solutions during the cold winter months to keep it warm and livable.

Left as-is, it really gets too cold on a daily basis during the winter to spend much time down there, so we have to have a heater of some sort.  We have tried one that looked like a fireplace and while it was really pretty to watch, you had to sit about 6 inches from it in order to really feel the effects of the heat.  We used that unit beyond it’s capacity and it ended up breaking.  We have tried a radiator style heater and it looks ugly and sticks out into the room but it did a better job heating than the fireplace one.  However, it still needed to be located fairly close to where we were sitting in order to feel the effects.  Plus, the radiator unit didn’t provide a consistent temperature level, we were always turning it down or turning it up.

So we were at a loss for a proper solution.

That is, until we had an opportunity to try out the Dyson Hot fan heater.

The Dyson Hot™ fan heater projects heat further, heating the whole room faster than any other. It has precise temperature control, and there are no fast-spinning blades or visible heating elements, so it is easy to clean. There is also an automatic cut out that switches off the heating plates if the unit is tipped over.

The first thing you notice about this heater is that it looks nothing like a heater or a fan.  It looks, well…ODD – like.  You just can’t imagine how hot air can actually come out of the unit and heat the room.

FEATURES:

Air Multiplier™ technology

Air is accelerated through a narrow aperture around the fan loop. This creates a jet of hot air that passes over an airfoil-shaped ramp, which channels its direction. Surrounding cool air is drawn into the airflow, amplifying it 6 times through processes known as inducement and entrainment.

I don’t exactly understand the science of this but I can tell you it works.  The air that comes out of the machine is warm and toasty and the best part is that even though it is technically a “fan” it is very quiet.

Whole Room Heat Distribution

Some conventional heaters blow heat in a narrow stream because they don’t oscillate. So the whole room is not heated evenly. The Dyson Hot™ fan heater oscillates smoothly to distribute heat across the whole room.

Our old heating units had to be within a couple of feet of us when we were downstairs to really feel the warmth, and they never warmed the entire room.  Our Dyson Hot unit is in the far corner of our large family room and the entire room is affected by the heater.  It is warm even around the corner (the room is ‘L’ shaped).

Safety Features

It is imperative in a home with small children that the heating unit be not only safe to be around, but safe in general.  I have the peace of mind that the unit will cut off when tipped, there are no visible heating elements to cause burns and that there are no visible fan blades that can harm small fingers.

Precision Temperature

You can set the exact temperature you want the room to be set at with the Dyson Hot.  It uses a digital readout and turns on and off as necessary to keep the room at the selected temperature.  And boy does it work!  We had ours set at 72 one day because we had had it turned way down and wanted to quickly warm the room up because we wanted to spend time down there.  We ended up having to open the window because within just a few minutes it had heater the room up.  We now know that we don’t need to turn it up PAST our desired temperature because it really does work pretty fast to warm the room.

No Burning Smell

With our old radiator style unit there was always a smell.  It wasn’t terrible, but you could definitely smell the heat and it was annoying.  With the Dyson hot there is no smell.

Cooling Fan

We have yet to try the cooling fan, but I am looking forward to the spring when we can move the Dyson Hot upstairs to help cool it.  In the warmer weather our upper level is significantly warmer than our lower level and I am anxious to see if it cools as well as it heats.

Touch-tilt

Most conventional heaters can’t be tilted to direct warm air where you want for personal heating. The Dyson Hot™ fan heater pivots on its own centre of gravity, staying put without having to be clamped down. You can direct airflow where you want it.

We haven’t used the tilt feature much but I do think that we will use it more in the warmer weather.

The cell phone I currently have is tied to my husband’s corporate plan.  We pay like $10/mo for it and we share minutes.  I make and receive very few calls, but it’s definitely nice to have in case of an emergency.

The phone itself, well….it’s a dinosaur.  It’s my husband’s old phone.  It has spent time sitting in a bucket of water.  It has been dropped.  It has been stepped on, I would be surprised it it had been driven over.

Yet it keeps on ticking.

Which means I have no real reason to get a new cell phone.

Which is SAD.

You should see me try and text message on that thing.  It takes forever.

Recently I had the opportunity to try out a brand new cell phone. A SMARTPHONE actually. What a huge difference from my old phone.

Impulse 4G by AT&T

From the perspective of someone who has never used a smartphone, the AT&T Impulse 4G is a great first step into the modern world.  I think I did have a bit of an advantage having used an Android tablet at one point and because I own an iPad but the setup was easy and it didn’t take long to figure out how to get all my accounts linked up and begin using all the great features that make this a smartphone.

The phone has great call clarity, though I did experience some network issues (no bars) a few times while traveling around with it, I thought the calls were much clearer than on my old phone (not AT&T).

The Impulse is the perfect size, it’s wider than my flip phone but not too wide to where it is uncomfortable and overall the screen is a decent size for texting, surfing and sending emails.  Occasionally the data speeds drag a bit, but again, overall I can’t complain especially considering I didn’t even have data on my old phone.

I also like that the Android interface is pretty standard across the phones so upgrading your phone later is a pretty seamless thing.  No more having to learn where all the settings are on a new phone with a new way of doing things.  So long as you stick with Android, everything is pretty much the same!

It has been a learning curve, however, with the touch screen and having to swipe my finger to answer the phone.  The first couple of weeks I missed every call because I couldn’t get the “swipe” just right.  I’m a pro now though.

I have to say that while I don’t need a smartphone on a regular basis, I’ve been having a lot of fun with it and it certainly has allowed me to participate in social media more when I am out and about.  Taking pictures of my kids.  “Checking in” from places on Facebook.  And the ever popular, taking pictures of my food and pictures of my daughter at Taco Bell.

Overall I thought the call clarity on this phone was fantastic compared to my old phone.  I have a few issues with having “no bars” when we were in the middle of a cornfield, but it was rare and 95% of the time I had no problems with calls or data on the AT&T network.

ENTER TO WIN A NEW AT&T IMPULSE 4 G SMARTPHONE

One winner will receive an Impulse 4G to be used on the AT&T network.  The phone DOES NOT come with a sim card so you would have to take it to an AT&T store and start a new plan, or current AT&T customers can simply switch out their existing card.

ARV $379.99 non-commitment price

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment telling me why you want to win this phone.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

The extra entries on this post are UNLIMITED.  You may comment as many times as you want with any one of the following (your answer must be different each time):

• The name of a Christmas song
• The name of a Christmas dish or yummy treat
• The name of a reindeer
• The name of a Christmas movie

This means you can list every Christmas song you can think of as a separate extra entry, then list every Christmas dish you can think of, then list every reindeer, and so on.  But each must be in a separate comment.

Good luck and have fun!

Fine print:

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry indicating that you performed the required entry.  Provide links to Tweet, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 20, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 24 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 24 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.  Prize must be claimed on December 21st.

Note: I received similar items to the product shown for my participation in this promotion.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

Please note that this prize may not arrive before Christmas, but we hope it will!

Don’t get me wrong, he is a great cook, but cleaning up after him is absolutely no fun.  He’s like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets, throwing stuff all around the kitchen and flinging gravy and food all over.

In addition to the mess he makes, there is a lot of prep work that goes into his cooking because he likes to do everything from scratch and likes to brine and marinade and experiment with all sort of fancy dishes.  It’s times like these I think we need a second refrigerator to store all his prepped food!

LG has appliances that make it easier to host holiday dinners.  They have solutions for all the problems associated with preparing the meal and beyond – from cooking and storing to cleaning up afterwards.

What challenges do you face when you host a holiday meal?

• Is food storage, and not having enough room for it, and having easy access to the things you frequently use, an issue before during and after the meal?
• Do you have trouble fitting everything you need to cook in a single oven?  Do you need your oven to reach desired temperatures more quickly so you don’t waste time waiting for it to heat up?  Do you need to cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time?
• Do you need a safe yet powerful way to clean your valuable linens after a satisfying, yet messy, holiday dinner?
• Do you need a vacuum that picks up 3 time more dirt than the average vacuum?
• Do you need a dishwasher than will wash numerous loads without wasting a ton of water?  Do you need a dishwasher that gets your dishes clean the first time?
• Or is it something else?

LG has an appliance to suit whatever your needs may be this holiday season.

Largest Capacity Refrigerator*

With our latest French Door model you can enjoy the largest capacity for a 36″ wide refrigerator at 31 cu. ft. as well as a host of cutting-edge innovations to help keep your food fresher, longer.

*Largest capacity standard-width French door refrigerator, excludes other LG manufactured products

Ready in a Flash

Our unique InfraGrill™ system is one of the first oven technologies to utilize infrared heating elements. These sophisticated heating elements enable the oven to reach broil temperature more quickly, letting you cook popular items like hamburgers and chicken breasts 24% faster.

Exceed your expectations

TrueSteam™ technology gently but powerfully penetrates fabrics. In fact, LG uses a real steam generator to drive hotter, smaller particles of steam, for our most advanced cleaning ever.

Pick Up More

How can LG vacuums store up to 3 times more dirt? A unique wiper blade inside the bin compacts dust while you vacuum, forming a “cake” of dust you can drop right into the trash. No bags. No mess. No fuss.

LG also has powerful and stylish dishwashers that offer lower water consumption and other eco-friendly features.  They are also among the quietest on the market with a built-in food disposer and self-cleaning filter.

At my house we face multiple issues.  Our refrigerator is a side-by-side and we can’t fit anything large or bulky in it.  We always end up storing stuff outside on the deck (we’re in Indiana so it’s cold out there), in the garage or next door in my sister’s refrigerator.  My dishwasher is not very water conservative and my water bill goes up noticeably during the holidays when we host meals.  Our stove only has a single compartment and it’s hard to balance cooking multiple things at different temperatures.  With little kids running around, we absolutely need the steam feature in a washer in order to safely wash delicate table cloths and other linens.  And finally, I am already obsessed with having clean floors, and with all the extra people, kids, spills and things like Christmas tree needles, I need all the power I can get in a vacuum.

So how about you?

How would an LG Appliance solve one of the challenges you face planning & hosting a holiday meal?

ENTER TO WIN A $250 AMEX GIFT CARD FROM LG

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

Check out all the features of the LG appliances: http://bit.ly/LGComeDinewithMe

Then come back here and tell me which of these appliances would help make your holiday entertaining a whole lot easier AND WHY.  What feature will change your life?

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• “Like” What’s That Smell?” on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Share a link to the LG Appliances page on your FB wall ( http://bit.ly/LGComeDinewithMe ) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY 

• Tweet about this giveaway: sample Tweet provided below – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

“Come Dine with Me” & handle the holidays w/ ease w/ LG appliances & @WhatsThatSmell $250 GC giveaway http://bit.ly/vnQg3b

• Tweet about the LG Appliances page ( http://bit.ly/LGComeDinewithMe ): sample Tweet provided below – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

“Come Dine with Me” & @WhatsThatSmell to find an LG appliance to make your holiday hosting easier http://bit.ly/LGComeDinewithMe

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry indicating that you performed the required entry.  Provide links to Tweet, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 20, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received compensation for my participation in this campaign through Ogilvy Public Relations and LG.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

Please note that as much as we would like your prize to arrive before Christmas, we cannot guarantee it.

Even me.

And now that I have a daughter, I really enjoy encouraging her to enjoy and appreciate the fairy tales.

What Disney created so many years ago with the Princesses we all know and love, was a sense of enchantment.  He gave girls an outlet for their dreams.  Made them realize that they can want to live happily ever after.  He gave us all permission to get lost in the fairy tale.  Today’s world is so different than it was when I was growing up.  Things aren’t as simple.  Things aren’t as innocent.  Girls grow up way too fast.  And they are jaded by the real world and stop believing in fairy tales long before they should.

I think parents today need to do everything in their power to keep the magic alive for their kids.

I think they need to believe in the fairy tales themselves in order to instill a life-long sense of wonder for their kids.

The Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle from Mattel is one way to help bring the fantasy to life for your kids.

About the castle:

Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle

This enchanting castle features three stories of themed rooms, each tailored to an iconic Disney princess. Girls can retell favorite fairytales from their own perspective with these fun & fabulous play areas: Tiana’s kitchen, perfect for pretend cooking; Belle’s dining room, with “magically” moving character friends; Jasmine’s elevator, which is really a “magic” carpet waiting to whisk her from floor to floor; Ariel’s bathroom, complete with bubble sounds and a seashell tub; Snow White’s vanity, with a “magic mirror” showing her beloved prince in the reflection; Sleeping Beauty’s bedroom, where fairy godmothers spin above the bed; and Cinderella’s staircase, where she can glide down before midnight (but she’s left her glass slipper behind)! At the very top, there’s a spinning, musical dance floor perfect for wishing upon a star and dancing the night away. It’s the quintessential place for living happily ever after (and bringing beloved stories to life)!

In order to help bring out the fairy tale for my daughter, I asked her: “Which room in the Disney Princess Castle do you like best?  Which room would you want to live in if you could live inside it?”

Well.

She clammed up.

Refused to talk.

But, she definitely didn’t refuse to play with her Disney Princess Castle!

I really think there isn’t a room she doesn’t like.

She actually did tell me “Princesses don’t go potty.”  So I’m assuming maybe she wouldn’t choose to spend time in the castle bathroom

Personally, I would live in their tub.

I do know that Cinderella’s stairs were one of her favorite features of the castle.

To go along with this amazing castle, Mattel has some great new 2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise Princesses.

ENTER TO WIN A DISNEY PRINCESS DOLL OF YOUR CHOICE

2 winners will each receive the Disney Princess doll of their choice (Belle, Snow White, Cinderella, Tiana, Jasmine or Ariel).  Exact doll style may vary from shown above.

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment telling me which room in the castle you think your little princess would say was her favorite.  Winners will receive the doll associated with the room they chose (see description above for details about what room belongs to whom).

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Live the Fairy Tale in Disney Princess Ultimate Castle & enter to win A Disney Princess Doll from@whatsthatsmell http://bit.ly/uWPtoG

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Leave a comment on any other non-giveaway post – 1 EXTRA PER POST COMMENTED (leave link or post title of post commented on)

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry indicating that you performed the required entry.  Provide links to Tweet, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 5, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received the product shown from Mattel.  Prize also provided by Mattel.  Opinions expressed are my own.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

Please note that as much as we would like your prize to arrive before Christmas, we cannot guarantee it.

He gets interested in building sets for awhile, but he prefers toys that actually do something beyond just being built.  He likes them to drive or fight or interact.  He’s a boy.  He wants them to do boy things.

Like explode.

Or tackle each other.

The new Hasbro Kre-O Transformers toys combine building with the activity and interaction that he craves.

About Kre-O Transformers:

Hasbro entered the world of construction-based play this year with the introduction of twelve KRE-O TRANSFORMERS construction brick playsets, ranging from basic sets priced at $7.99 to deluxe sets priced at $59.99. Perfect for both brick and Transformers fans of many ages, the KRE-O TRANSFORMERS sets offer the following:

• Value: KRE-O construction sets are compatible with other leading construction sets available, so users don’t have to invest in a new brick system. Expand the brick collection you already have at home and don’t worry if bricks get mixed together in the toy chest!
• Action: Build favorite characters from the classic Transformers universe, including Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, in either robot or vehicle mode
• Fun: Collect and build unique, poseable KREON figures in both robot and human form

My son received 2 Kre-O sets for him to try out – he selected Prowl and Sideswipe.

He really took his time building and started with Prowl.  He wanted to build him as a vehicle first and set about putting it together.  I like that it was challenging enough that it took him more than 1 session to build it.  He really got involved in following the directions and building it so it was “right”.  I thought the detail was pretty great and he especially loved the Kreon figures.  In between building he would play with them separately involving them in wars and adventures.

We’re still working on getting him to take Prowl apart and build the robot version.  He’s quite attached to the police car and hasn’t wanted to take it apart yet.  We decided he would build the robot version of Sideswipe next instead.

Below is some video of my son talking about the Kre-O sets:

Not only do I like how the Kre-O Transformers engaged him, I also like the price.  For the number of pieces and level of interaction, I think the prices on these sets are very reasonable.

Kre-O Transformers are available at Toys R Us, Amazon.com and numerous other major retailers.  From now through November 27th (while supplies last) you can get a $5 off coupon here from coupons.com: http://bit.ly/nyrUVj

Note: we received the products shown in order to facilitate our review.  Opinions expressed are our own.

When I became a stay-at-home mom, I changed it all up.

No more men’s shoes.

No more shoes period.

Slippers became my shoe of choice.

If I had to go out, I would put on sneakers which I don’t like wearing with jeans, but I had nothing else.

That was then.

This is now.

Now I have Jambu Stowe and there is no going back to sneakers or men’s shoes ever again!

About Jambu:

Jambu™ is the original outdoor adventure brand. Jambu’s™ sporty? feminine shoes are ultra comfortable and perfect for the women on the go. Collections include styles like Sporty Wedge, Metro, All Terra, Bare Feet and Vegan Designs; making our shoes perfect for the adventurous soul inside every woman.  Unlike other outdoor brands, Jambu™ shoes are designed by women for women, therefore, details such as floral motifs, contrast stitching and materials keep Jambu a step ahead creating an outdoor fashion feel.

JAMBU™ uses only 100% recycled, recyclable and reusable packaging. Jambu™ outsoles are made with partially recycled and re?usable compressed rubber. In this small way, we hope to preserve our great outdoors for future generations.

Renew with Jambu™.

About Jambu Stowe:

Stowe
All Terra Designs
The Stowe is the everyday shoe for a cold day. It’s made with captain leather and faux fur and comes in brown, black and burgundy. It goes great with the everyday look especially with jeans. This is a lightweight shoe with a memory foam insole that will keep your feet happy.

The Stowe is seriously my new favorite pair of shoes.  I wear them CONSTANTLY.  They are so comfortable, soft, warm (but not too warm, I wore them comfortably in Atlanta last month) and they go with everything.  I get away wearing them with jeans or my athletic pants.  I’ve also worn them with my black coat and my dark brown coat and they still look great.  I’ve never had shoes with fur in them and I love how great they fit.

I have worn my Jambu Stowe in the rain, I run around with my kids in that grass, and walked for a couple of miles in them.  Not only do they still look as good as the day I opened the box, my feet never hurt in them.

ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF JAMBU

One winner will receive their choice of size & style Jambu shoe (based upon in-stock/availability)

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment and tell me what Jambu style you would pick if you won.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Follow Jambu on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Keep your feet warm and comfortable this winter with Jambu! Enter to win a pair from @WhatsThatSmell http://ow.ly/7lVxS

• Like my page on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Like Jambu on Facebook – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the bottom of my site) – 1 EXTRA

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry.  Provide links to Tweets, Facebook wall, blog posts, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on November 28, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received the product pictured from Jambu in order to facilitate my review.  Opinions expressed are my own.

Does it involve you rushing around your kitchen looking for something quick and easy, all the while being mindful of trying to provide a healthy meal for your family?  Does it involve ordering out?  No matter what you do for your “countdown to dinner” it likely takes more than just a few minutes, and sometimes a few minutes is all you have.

I try desperately to plan out our meals.  I try to have things ready either by using the slow cooker or by preparing ahead of time.  The problem is that often, try is not enough and many times during the week we are scrambling to find something to eat at the last minute.  And usually that something ends up being not-so-healthy.

Enter Ronzoni’s Quick Cook pasta!

Ronzoni sent me a “Countdown to Dinner” kit and challenged me to try their Quick Cook pasta and see for myself that you can have a real meal in 3 minutes.

And I was totally up for the challenge.

Take a look:

So obviously it takes a few minutes more than 3 minutes unless you have magic water that comes pre-boiled, but the pasta itself was completely perfectly cooked in 3 minutes.  While the water boils you can quickly prep whatever else you need for your meal and have an easy home-made meal in a very short time.  No waiting for delivery.  No unhealthy fast food.

Quick.

Easy.

Tasty.

Ronzoni wants to help one of you revamp your “countdown to dinner” routine and is offering one lucky winner their own “Countdown to Dinner” kit.

ENTER TO WIN A RONZONI “COUNTDOWN TO DINNER” KIT

One winner will receive:

• One box of Ronzoni Quick Cook
• One Walmart gift card in the amount of $100
• One kitchen timer

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment telling me why your “countdown to dinner” routine needs some help.

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

Must complete required entry in order to qualify for extra entries.

• Enter this giveaway as well: Traffic Safety Giveaway – 5 EXTRA ended no longer an entry option
  

• If you already entered the Traffic Safety Giveaway, simply click here: Traffic Safety Page – 1 EXTRA PER DAY ended no longer an entry option

• “Like” Ronzoni on Facebook  – 1 EXTRA

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• Subscribe by Email or RSS to What’s That Smell? – 1 EXTRA

• Follow me on Twitter – 1 EXTRA

• Tweet the following or something similar (leave the link to each new Tweet each day) – 1 EXTRA PER DAY
  

Enter to win a Ronzoni “Countdown to Dinner” kit w/$100 Walmart GC from @WhatsThatSmell & @RonzoniPasta http://ow.ly/7heX8

• Share this giveaway on your Facebook wall – 1 EXTRA PER DAY

• Leave a comment on any other non-giveaway post – 1 EXTRA PER POST COMMENTED (leave link or post title of post commented on)

Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry indicating that you performed the required entry.  Provide links to Tweet, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 1, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received the product shown from Ronzoni.  Prize also provided by Ronzoni.  Opinions expressed are my own.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

Please note that as much as we would like your prize to arrive before Christmas, we cannot guarantee it.

Well.

Picky EATER.

Me.

While I strive to set a good example for my kids, I also am pickier than they are when it comes to what I will and will not eat.

Last year I had discovered this book and it changed everything:

Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food

Finally I had discovered a way to incorporate a wide range of vegetables into our diets even if {we} won’t eat them directly.

The basic idea of the Deceptively Delicious book is that you serve vegetables and try to encourage your kids to eat them, but you also add pureed vegetables into your foods to make sure everyone is getting the nutrition they need regardless of whether or not they eat the actual veggies.

And you know what I discovered in the process?

Adding pureed vegetables to meals, sauces and other things actually adds a lot of depth and flavor to whatever you serve.  It is a healthy way to make your food taste even better!

But there is a catch.

You need the right tools in order be able to sneak veggies into your meals.  Sure, you can get by with a decent blender and a hand chopper to prepare and puree the vegetables, I did for awhile, but it seems like so much more work that way.

I knew I needed a food processor, not only for my purees but also for so many other uses in the kitchen.

Then, thanks to Hayneedle, the Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection 14 Cup Food Processor came to my rescue.

This is the Cadillac of food processors.

How did I ever live without it?

*insert royal orchestral music here*

Product Info

Description:

This elegant, multi-functional Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection 14 Cup Food Processor delivers three processors in one, with maximum bowl capacity to help you prepare all your meals to perfection, from everyday basics to gourmet specialties. Available in die-cast, white and black, the processor features a metal dough blade, stainless steel 6-position slicing disc and reversible shredding discs, large and small chopping and mixing blades, and a BladeLock system.

Additional features:

• 3 Food Processors in 1!
• 14-cup Large Bowl, 11-cup Medium Bowl, and 4½-cup
  Small Bowl with Pour Spouts & Measurement Markings
• Exclusive Patent-Pending SealTight™ Advantage System –
  Seals Bowls and Locks Blades
• Easy On/Off Locking System with Push-Button Release
• Stainless Steel Adjustable Slicing Disc (1 to 6mm)
• Stainless Steel Reversible Shredding Disc (fine/medium)
• Large and Small Stainless Steel Chopping/Mixing Blades
  with BladeLock System
• Dough Blade
• Cuisinart® Supreme® Wide-Mouth Feedtube and Cover Assembly
• Electronic Touchpad Controls – On/Off/ Dough/Pulse with surrounding Blue LED Lights
• 1000-Watt Peak Power Motor
• Retractable Cord
• Accessory Storage Case with Lock
• Spatula
• How-to DVD
• Recipe/Instruction Book
• All removable parts are dishwasher safe
• 20-Year Motor Warranty
• 3-Year Limited Warranty

I have to admit that my first time dealing with this machine was a bit intimidating.  Luckily it came with an instructional video that walks you through how to use it and I watched the entire thing before even taking the machine out of the box.  After using it just twice, I already feel like a pro with it.

The Cuisinart FP-14DC Elite Collection 14 Cup Food Processor packs a lot of punch with just a few tools.  It isn’t overwhelming with tons of parts and is very easy to assembly for the specific task you happen to be doing.  Pureeing, slicing, chopping, mixing, you name it!

You can make so many things you probably never imagined with this machine.  Breadcrumbs, whipped cream, peanut butter, salad dressing, pizza dough, bread dough, pasta dough, dips, salsa, soups.  The list literally goes on and on.  Staples that you would normally buy from the grocery store that are loaded in sugars and preservatives, you can make quickly and easily at home with this food processor.

So far I have tackled vegetable purees and an au gratin potato dish using my Cuisinart Elite Food Processor.  I really consider this one of the must have “small appliances” in any kitchen.

It’s easy to assemble.  The 3 different sized bowls nest inside each other making it easy to select the size you need.  The blade usage is straightforward and the settings are simple.  On, off, dough and pulse.  You don’t need 40 different speeds and have to guess at what will work best for what you are doing.  The blades are easy to insert and easy to remove.  The slicing and shredding discs have finger holes for safety (I’m extremely paranoid about the blades) and I love the adjustable slicing disc.  It is basically 6 discs in one and it’s so easy to change the slicing thickness.  And one of my favorite parts of this machine is the locking accessory storage case.  It holds all the blades in a safe and secure plastic case making it so much easier for me store and not worry about anyone getting hurt reaching into a cabinet for something with sharp blades rolling around loose.

In the past, making my vegetable purees has actually broken machines.  They couldn’t handle the all-day usage mixing and pureeing steamed vegetables.  This machine had absolutely no problem and it took only about 2 minutes to fully puree each one.  I did in a matter of a few hours what it has taken me a full day to do in the past.

Whether you are looking to make the smoothest mashed potatoes, vegetable purees, or even baby food, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this machine.  You can feed just a couple of people to a whole party with the different bowl sizes this machine has.

Speaking of baby food, it really is so easy to make your own with the Cuisinart Elite Food Processor.  You can make fresh 100% pure baby food at home with no preservatives and know exactly what is in the food you are feeding your baby.  I actually use baby food storage containers (Oxo Tot Baby Blocks)  for my purees because they are the perfect size.  They let you portion, store, freeze, heat and serve the food all in a single container.

I put together a video to show you how easy this machine is to use.  It’s a little odd in that I didn’t do any talking because honestly I wasn’t sure I could be heard over the machine.  Turns out, it’s pretty quiet and I probably would have been ok, it’s much more quiet than my blender.

So now admit it, you want one of these right?

Seriously this would make an AWESOME Christmas or holiday gift.

Well, I happen to have one to giveaway.

ENTER TO WIN A CUISINART ELITE COLLECTION 14 CUP FOOD PROCESSOR

ARV: $299.99

HOW TO ENTER (mandatory):

To enter, leave a comment telling me why you are interested in winning this fantastic food processor.  Would it be for you?  As a gift for someone?

EARN EXTRA ENTRIES (optional):

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Enter to win a Cuisinart Elite 14 cup Food Processor from @WhatsThatSmell & @Hayneedle ARV $299.99 – HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA http://ow.ly/7heUc

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Please leave a separate comment for EACH extra entry indicating that you performed the required entry.  Provide links to Tweet, etc. as required for the entry.

Giveaway is open to the USA and ends on December 1, 2011 at noon CST. Winner will be selected at random from all eligible entries and will be contacted by email. Winner will have 48 hrs to respond.  Please add kim@accidentalmommies.com to your trusted email filter.  If original winner does not claim their prize within 48 hrs, it is forfeit and a new winner will be selected promptly.

Note: I received the product shown from Hayneedle.  Prize also provided by Hayneedle.  Opinions expressed are my own.

No purchase necessary to enter or win. Odds of winning are not increased by a purchase.

Please note that as much as we would like your prize to arrive before Christmas, we cannot guarantee it.

Every once in awhile, however, a toy comes along that I am drawn to and want to sit and not only watch them play, but play with it myself.

That happened with the Defiants 4x4s.

About Defiants 4x4s:

Defiants run on 2 AAA batteries and require no remote control.  They go by themselves with 2 different gears.  They run on any kind of terrain, they have lighted headlights and do tricks and jumps and whatever your child’s imagination can dream up.  The Maximum Mayhem Playset has over 7′ of track and turns your living room into a test track.

I always thought there was a pair of shoes out there that would satisfy the casual look but that I could also wear for a most dressed up occasion.

Turned out, there is.

The Jambu Cali.

Jambu is a unique shoe company.  Their shoes are inspired by adventure, designed by women for women, are comfortable and are eco-friendly.

Inspired by the beauty and mystique of the rainforest, Jambu™ Footwear is designed to guide you in style and comfort on your next personal journey – at home or across the globe. Let Jambu™ join you as you zip line through the rainforest, stroll the beach, navigate the city, or travel the world. Be you with Jambu™.

JAMBU™ uses only 100% recycled, recyclable and re-usable packaging. Jambu™ outsoles are made with partially recycled and re-usable compressed rubber. In this small way we hope to preserve our great outdoors for future generations. Renew with Jambu™.

About the Jambu Cali:

Sporty Wedge Designs
This Sporty Wedge is a classic with a twist. The stylish Cali has a 2 ½” wedge and is combined with the comfort element of a memory foam foot bed. There is elastic around the top of the shoe, making it easy to slip on when in a hurry, and easy to slip off. The metallic detail on the wedge adds style and shine. The Cali is made from oily pull up leather and crinkle patent and comes in black and brown.

I cannot say enough good things about this shoe.  It is comfortable, has just the right amount of height in the wedge and looks great with jeans or slacks.  They are cute. classy and sleek all at the same time.  It is the perfect shoe for the fall and winter months.

I do have one issue with this shoe and that is that it seems a bit big.  Not really length-wise, it seems true to size in length for me, but it is quite roomy around the foot.  It does not rub and I do not get blisters, but I do notice it when I walk.  I have a narrow foot, though and it is sometimes an issue for me.

Overall, however, I do love this shoe and will continue to wear it every chance I get!