Brilliant Buys

The toaster oven is one of those appliances that you never really give that much thought to.  My great grandmother had a toaster oven.  I still remember thinking it was such an oddity when compared with the toaster we had at home.  It was larger, you needed to flip your toast midway through for equal browning and you almost always burned something in the process.  Granted, I was a four year old at the time.  Still, most people prefer toasters to toaster ovens.  This is a real shame since the toaster oven has made dramatic improvements throughout the years and is more versatile than the toaster.  Here’s the scoop on toasters and toaster ovens.

The Toaster

The first toaster was invented in 1919 by a man named Charles Strite.  It was a simple device with a spring-loading device and a timer.  Wonder bread introduced sliced bread to the market in 1930 and by 1964 Kellogg’s had come out with the Pop-Tart.  The toaster oven had been designed to streamline the process of toasting bread.  Now, with Pop-Tarts on the scene, they were also the quickest way to prepare breakfast on the go.  Toasters became simpler and more efficient as time went on.  They continue to do their one thing well.

If you do decide to go with a toaster, the Consumer Reports magazine (May 2010) suggests that you go with the Cuisinart CPT-170.  According to the article, this toaster consistently produced evenly toasted bread regardless of how light or dark you like your toast.

The Toaster Oven

In 1956, GE came out with the Toast-R-Oven.  It was a mini metal machine that could toast or bake.  The machine was awkward and had several noticeable problems including the need to flip toast mid-way through the toasting process.  Just like the toaster oven, it underwent many meaningful face-lifts to arrive at the toaster oven we now have available to us today.

The best of the toaster ovens, according to the Consumer Reports magazine (May 2010) was the Cuisinart TOB-195.  The article went on to say that this toaster oven was really great at baking and broiling and toasted bread as evenly as many of the top toasters.  An impressive feat.  It is large enough to stuff a four-pound chicken in it and has a touchpad control.

The Bottom Line

The toaster is a one hit wonder.  It basically does one thing and one thing only.  A good toaster oven can do that same thing and then some.  For small baking and broiling tasks, the toaster oven will use up less energy than your conventional oven.  It is the better choice for dorm rooms or other spaces without ovens since it can also heat up hot pockets and personal pizzas.  So, while the toaster takes up less space than the toaster oven, it cannot do nearly as much for you. The smart money is on the toaster oven.

Best Hand Vac

When I got married, my husband and I didn’t have a lot of money.  We had paid off all of our debts (or should I say my debts) and gone on a 3 month long honeymoon.  Needless to say, after all that spending, I wasn’t willing to spend a penny on anything that wasn’t necessary.  So when my new in-laws offered me their old vacuum cleaner I jumped at the opportunity to save money.  This super old canister vacuum has done the job faithfully for the past 4 years.  The biggest problem is that it is a monstrosity.  I have to lug it out of the pantry, assemble it and fill the canister with water before the vacuuming can even begin.  With a one year old and a baby on the way, I have to find myself a small vacuum.  So this search is almost purely selfish, but hopefully it will help you to find a good small vacuum cleaner of your own.

Consumer Report Recommendations

According to Consumer Reports Magazine (May 2010) hand vacuums are generally better than stick vacuum cleaners when it comes to carpet but have their limitations.  They can’t run for long periods of time.  Brooms and sweepers gave the weakest performance relative to the cost.  And while these compact, lightweight model vacuums may get the job done quickly, they still cannot replace larger vacuum cleaners for thorough cleaning jobs.

Small Vacuums of Choice

The best stick vacs were the Bissell Versus 76T8 coming in at $60 and with an overall score of 84 and the Black & Decker Pivot PSV1800 at $100 and a score of 78.  The other stick vacs mentioned had scores of 68 and under.  I didn’t mention them for that reason.

The best hand vacs were the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 33A1 at a cost of $35 per unit and an overall score of 87 and the Dirt Devil Kone M0213 series ending in “J” with a cost of $45 and a score of 83.  The Black & Decker Pivot PHV1800 was next at $60 and 82 followed by the Black & Decker Pet Series Retriever HV9010P at $30 and 81.  The Dirt Devil Kurv M0216 was the last hand vac to make the cut at a cost of $50 and an overall score of 74.

None of the Sweepers or Brooms made the cut.  Both broom vacs had scores of 67.  But if you really had your heart set on one, here are the results: Dirt Devil Broom Vac MBV2030 [ ] at $55 and the Swivel Sweeper at $35.

Additional Thoughts

I used to think that a vacuum and a broom were the only two things you need.  After having my daughter, I have to change my opinion.  She eats at least 5 times a day and at least half of it ends up on the floor.  Large vacuum cleaners can be too bulky and time consuming for the everyday clean ups and brooms don’t do the best job on carpeted floors.  Sometimes a light, small vacuum is the quicker, easier solution.

Brilliant Buy - Simmons Latex Foam Mattress

In my first year of marriage, my husband and I slept in over 30 different beds.  We were traveling all the time and slept on all kinds of mattresses.  We actually traveled so much in that first year that we spent two-thirds of the year away from home.  Because we spent so much time away from home, we didn’t go shopping for a mattress.  We were on our way home from another trip and put the word out that we needed a mattress.  Just days before we got back, our friends called us and told us they had a queen sized bed for us if we wanted it.  It was basically new, they had just decided that they needed a bigger bed and wanted to give it to us.  So I can honestly say that I didn’t have to shop for my bed.  I have, however, read a lot of information about bed shopping.  Call it a hobby.  So, if you’re searching for the perfect mattress, I want to help.  Here’s what you need to know to find the best mattress to buy now.

One of the hardest things about choosing a mattress is the fact that you can’t really take home a mattress and give it a test run.  Some companies say you can, but that’s because once you get it home, you’re statistically unlikely to send it back after the trial period ends.  With that in mind, it becomes very, very important to check the consumer reports, expert reviews and customer feedback.

Consumer Reports on Mattresses

According to Consumer Reports Magazine (May 2010), most mattresses tested had pros and cons.  There wasn’t one mattress that was distinguishably better than another mattress, regardless of the price.  For the most part, they discovered that within a certain brand name the company used the same coil design, foundation or box spring and similar insides.  They differed in terms of ticking or outer fabric, stitching patterns and design and padding.   Because, the differences between mattresses within a specific brand were so small, consumer reports chose to rate the mattress brands themselves.  Here are the most significant results based on The Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of over 13,471 Consumer Reports.org subscribers:

1. Tempur-Pedic  83
2. Original Mattress Factory  81
3. Select Comfort  80
4. Denver Mattress  78
5. Simmons 76
6. Kingsdown    74
7. Serta    74
8. Sealy    73

Expert Reviews

According to household essentials expert Barbara Flanagan, “elaborate layering is the current farce of the mattress trade.”  She recommends steering clear of all the fluff and getting a basic foam mattress.  Here are some of the benefits:

* Natural.  The latex comes from trees called Hevea Brasiliensis.
* Supportive.  It holds the whole body, evenly.
* Comfortable.  Unlike memory foam mattresses, it does not retain body heat.
* Biodegradable.
* Hypoallergenic.  Will not leak gas smells like memory foam.
* Long-lasting.  Merchants say they will last for 20 to 25 years.  Owners report that they will last from 30 to 50 years.

Some of the brands listed above by the Consumer Reports Mattress reviews do offer natural latex mattresses however, Flanagan warns against over-paying for over-stuffing.  Although, I am not an “expert” I think I have qualified by the sheer number of beds I have slept in.  I have found that a simple mattress with a foam topper is sufficient and cost-efficient.   The bed that I have now has  a memory foam topper as well as a feather topper.  Until now I hadn’t thought about that topper contributing to the overall warmth my bed has always had.  I always blamed it on my husband.  If I were to do it all again with the information I have now, I would get a latex foam bed or a simple mattress with a latex foam topper.

Final Thoughts

The best way to find the right mattress is to give them a trial run of at least a month each and cut a bunch of them open to see what’s inside.  It is very unlikely that you’ll ever have the time or resources to do this.  Luckily, you won’t have to.  Consumer reports has done the hard work for you.  The best thing to do now would be to find a basic foam mattress from one of the top rated brands.  When it comes to latex foam mattresses, soft starts at 25 while 40 is extra firm.  Ultimately, the best mattress to buy now is the one that is best for you.  Don’t be moved by prices or pressured by salespeople.  I highly recommend finding a top consumer report ranked brand latex foam mattress.   Happy sleeping!

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The vacuum I use now was a hand-me-down from my father-in-law. Its a Rainbow vacuum from the 60’s and comes fully loaded with everything you need including carpet shampoo in that brown color that was all too popular back in the day. What is truly amazing about this dinosaur-of-a-vacuum is that it still runs like a champ…An old champ with an outdated wardrobe. I think that every vacuum should be as dependable and durable as this one. Here is a look at some of the best vacuums out there today based on my favorite vacuum cleaners reviews.

Flanagan Prefers Canister Vacuums

According to Barbara Flanagan, author of Flanagan’s Smart Home, the very best vacuum cleaners are made by Miele, Inc. Living up to their motto, “Anything else is a compromise,” Miele vacuum cleaners are German engineered and built to last for the next 20 years. According to the latest press releases Miele, Inc. has just released three new models: Olympus, Delphi and Titan. These very strong yet light canister vacuums feature Miele’s super strong Vortex Motor System™, and a ultra efficient AirClean™ filtration system and start at the reasonable retail price of $349. A major plus to buying any vacuum from Miele is that the company stocks vacuum parts for fifteen years after any model is discontinued.

Best Consumer Reports Vacuums: Upright
According to Consumer Reports Magazine (May 2010), the best upright vacuums are the Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900 and the Hoover Platinum Bagged UH30010COM. Both earned an overall score of 73. Next was the Miele S 7210 Twist at 72 and the Kenmore Progressive 35922 with an overall score of 71. The Hoover Tempo Widepath U5140-900 also received a decent score of 70. There were others within the C range but I don’t think we should even consider mediocre upright vacuums.

Best Consumer Reports Vacuums: Canisters
While I still think that the Miele uprights should be listed among the best, this is the scoop according to the Consumer Reports Magazine (May 2010): The very best canister vacuums were the Kenmore Intuition 28014 and the Kenmore Progressive 27514. There were only three canister vacuums listed.

Final Thoughts:
I am totally salivating over the Miele vacuum cleaners. I really wonder why the Consumer Reports didn’t list more of them among the best vacuums out there. I think it’s because people are in love with upright vacuums for their mobility and ease of storage. Not to mention, there wasn’t a single Electrolux vacuum (another great brand) that made the list which seemed dominated by Hoover and Kenmore.  My mom has had the same Electrolux vacuum since I was a kid and my friend Pat has had two Electrolux vacuums in the last 70 years.  Both of the Electrolux vacuums and my Rainbow are canister vacuum cleaners!

Anyone who has ever slept with a bad pillow knows just how valuable a good pillow really is.  I know all about pillows.  In my first year of marriage I slept in over 32 different beds.   A bad night’s sleep on a bad pillow inevitably effected me.    Finding the best pillow is paramount to restful, blissful sleep and while there is no way to put a premium on a good night’s sleep, there are ways to choose the very best pillow.  Here’s what I’ve discovered.

What the Consumer Reports Tell Us

Recently, Consumer Reports Magazine (May 2010)  did a study with where 71 of their staff members used an array of different pillows ranging from down to polyester and slept on each pillow for five nights straight while their resident textile expert studied the overall craftsmanship.  They discovered that while some felt that the expensive polyester-filled pillows were better than the cheaper polyester-filled versions,  personal preferences certainly came into play.  In the case of memory-foam pillows, the inexpensive versions had the same effects as their more expensive counterparts when it came to comfort, sleep quality and construction quality.   If you like memory-foam, you can save money by buying the less expensive memory-foam pillow.

Brilliant Buy Pillow Shopping Tips:

The difficult thing about pillow shopping is that only you can know what it is that you prefer.   Adjusting to a new pillow takes time and returning a used pillow is frowned upon by most pillow manufacturers.  One suggestion:  Keep the pillow in the protective wrap it came in and place your pillow covers over it for the first week while you make sure that it is the right pillow for you.

How to shop:

• Check on the firmness of the pillow by placing it on a flat surface and pushing down with your palm to the mid-point of the pillow.  The harder the pressure the firmer the pillow.
• Note the resilience of the pillow by observing how quickly the pillow returns to its original shape.
• Check on the craftsmanship by looking for clean seams, even distribution of filling, a usable zipper, piping, and a smooth, tightly woven cover.
• Make sure that your memory-foam pillow guarantees that the odor that is commonplace will eventually go away.
• Consider how easily it can be laundered.
• Resist the urge to buy the matching pillows in order to have symmetry.  Each person should have the pillow that is best for them.
• Don’t give into the hype about sleep positions.  Half of your nightly sleep is spent moving about.

Best Pillows

Best Polyester Pillow

When it comes to polyester-filled pillows the best pillow choice is the  Primaloft Deluxe Pillow PN90 from the Company Store.  It was the top pick and is a noticeably soft pillow.

Best Feather/Down Pillow

The Seasons Collection Pinnacle from Bed, Bath & Beyond is the best choice for down pillows with testers when it came to comfort and sleep quality.   It was well-made and washable.

Best Memory Foam Pillow

When it comes to memory foam pillows I suggest ignoring the top pick because a majority of the testers said they would not buy it.  I recommend the inexpensive winner because there were few noticeable differences between the expensive and inexpensive versions of memory-foam pillows.  I recommend you try the Memory Foam Deluxe Bed Pillow from Target.  The cover is washable and about half the people who tested it said they would buy it.  Memory foam isn’t for everybody.

Best Natural Alternative Pillow

Unfortunately, the Consumer Report pillow testing did not include any natural alternative pillows.  It would have been nice to know what pillow would come out on top.  According to Barbara Flanagan, author of Flanagan’s Smart Home, natural bedding is a terrific choice.  Unlike traditional pillows, shredded natural  latex pillows will stand up to mold, mildew and dust mights without batting an eye.  The organic cotton pillow case is washable and the price is reasonable.

My Final Thoughts on Pillows

Having tried many pillows, on many, many beds,  I know that finding the best pillow is critical to a good night’s sleep.   My bed at home has two soft, thin polyester-filled pillows and two thick memory-foam pillows.  When we first started sleeping with the memory-foam ones,  I thought that I had made a mistake.  We woke up with cramps in our necks and shoulders after having slept all night breathing in the fumes from the pillow’s smelly materials.   Days later, body adjusted, I found that these pillows were just fine.   Today, I am leaning more towards the natural latex pillows simply because all those chemicals in the foam pillows cannot be good and I have an ever-increasing desire to make environmentally-conscious decisions.  I would caution you to go with well-made pillows made up of materials that you are comfortable with at a price you can live with.  Good pillows are an investment that can pay sleep dividends that quickly add up night after night.

plush polyester pillows