A Few of My Favorite Things... Household Appliances

You know how Goldilocks goes around trying out all kinds of stuff that doesn't work or keeps breaking down on her? That's how it's been for me from the day I became responsible for buying my own household appliances. The whole experience has been a vicious cycle of disappointing performance, frustrating breakdowns, useless repairmen and more lame products.

But fairy tales have happy endings so, luckily, Goldilocks finally discovers the perfect thing, at which point she exclaims, "Ahhhh, just right"? And, like Goldilocks, I've finally found a few products that have ended the nightmarish guessing game and given me that "Ahhhh, just right" moment.

1. Anything Bosch
The longer I live, the more I'm convinced to buy German. And Bosch is my favorite brand for appliances. Every time I replace something with a Bosch, I never have to worry about it again. I can personally vouch for their dishwashers, drills, lawn mowers, dryers, hand mixers, boilers, etc... I never want to use anything else.

2. Henry the Vacuum
Like my parents before me, I've been cursed with bad vacuums. I'm not sure why since I don't use mine four times a day or as a ride-on toy for the kids like they do but, nevertheless, I'm cursed! At best, my vacuums only ever last until just after the warranty expires. I'd say they sucked, but that would be giving them too much credit. Then one day, after a bit of research, I decided to try Henry, the cult vacuum. They're always using him in schools and businesses out here, so I figured he was pretty tough - and he is! It was a little weird converting from an upright to a canister, I've always loathed canisters, but I soon got use to it and even prefer it on bare floors. Now Henry's a part of the family!


3. Electric Kettles
I can't imagine life without an electric kettle now that I've owned one. I'd never even seen one before moving out here, but I don't think there's a single house in the British Isles without one. In fact, when we toured an electricity plant in Wales a few years back they said they had to set aside extra power for big surges in kettle use after popular TV programs ended!! Electric kettles are mainly used to boil water for tea but I use mine for a million things. Boiling water the old fashioned way is so... old fashioned!