The following post is brought to you by my love for all things Hamilton Beach. 

Sure, in some instances, I was sent the product for review – and other times, I’ve had the product for years. But the fact remains that my kitchen is crammed to capacity with these terribly innovative products that just happen to be affordable too.

Toaster Ovens. Hand Blenders. Waffle Makers and more… what’s not to love?

Hence, I thought it was only fitting to start the new year off right with a few of Hamilton Beach’s most loved small appliances. If you’re looking for a little help in the kitchen this year, here are my tried and true favourites from a brand you can trust.

Instant Hot Water Dispenser

This is one of those items that I didn’t know I needed until I actually started using it. Every day. Multiple times per day. Oh yeah.

Here’s the deal: with Ryder starting school this past September, we’ve all been sick… well, every freaking week. No lie; I swear I spend more time taking the boys’ temperature than checking my e-mail. And so I’ve spent the better part of the last three months making tea, liquid medicine concoctions, spiced cider… anything to make me feel like my head is not about to pop off. Normally, I’m the type to boil water on the stove, but when you’re indulging in hot beverages 4-5 times per day, it can get tedious – quickly. Enter the Instant Hot Water Dispenser.

Now I actually took a video of the dispenser in action, but even after adding my witty commentary, I realized there is just no way of hyping up a product that boils water (nor would I subject y’all to a 1:13 demonstration of said product). But nonetheless: with a quick boil function, adjustable water flow from 150 – 300 ml and smart safety features (the unit automatically turns off when water boils), this is THE product for tea drinkers or anyone who needs hot water in a hurry. The 1.8 L reservoir ensures that you’re not refilling the unit all day long, but is not so big that water remains dormant and stale over days. I also love that it has a convenient stop button which immediately cuts the flow of hot water when you’ve reached the desired amount – another safety feature that prevents overflowing and well, scalding. #ouch

If there’s one item you pick up during cold and flu season, make sure it’s the Instant Hot Water Dispenser!
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It’s just about that time of year. The kids have returned to school; the crisp fall weather is around the corner, and the domestic goddess in you starts to stretch her long limbs, ready for to take on the world. Or rather, the kitchen.

Thanksgiving dinner. Halloween parties. Holiday baking. Christmas cookie exchanges. Oh my!

Chances are, you’ll be spending a fair time in the ol’ kitchen over the next few months. So take a look at your small appliances. Will they get the job done – or are you done with them?

SHOP.CA believes that every domestic diva should have the very best tools to stay on top of her trade. And with brands like Delonghi,  Kitchen Aid, Keurig, and Breville – all at great prices plus FREE shipping – you’ll be churning out haute cuisine faster than you can say “Martha Stewart who?”

But even seasoned chefs lust after certain small appliances – the perfect waffle maker, the most powerful hand blender – the list goes on and on. What are some of your #KitchenKravings?

Join SHOP.CA for the #KitchenKravings Twitter Party on Thursday, September 20th from 9-10pm EST. We’ll chat about your favourite kitchen gadgets, the ones you krave, and we’ll be giving away some of the SHOP.CA’s most sought-after small appliances! YES, just like all SHOP.CA Twitter Parties, the prizes will be EPIC!

DATE: Thursday, September 20th
TIME: 9:00pm – 10:00pm EST
PARTY HASHTAG: #KitchenKravings (more…)

Hey hey fabulous shoppers!

In case you missed the AWESOME news… SHOP.CA is open for business!

And, since I’ve been visiting the website almost obsessively, I figured it’s high time that I share some of the best deals, my favourite picks, and the items you should grab TODAY.

At the top of my list: This Krups 10 Cup Coffee Maker with Built-In Grinder. At 40% off MSRP, you can grab this amazing small appliance for just $124.99 this week!

Conical burr grinder with automatic functionality: grinds coffee to match number of cups and strength chosen, 5 levels of grind and 3 settings of coffee strength, Back-lit LCD with clock and programmable timer, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 cup digital settings that control the coffee-to-water ratio, Aroma function for 2 – 4 cups for proper brewing of small coffee quantities, Pause and serve, Automatically prevents steam from clogging the coffee channel and grinder, 10-cup glass carafe.

I’ve owned Krups machines in the past and have always been impressed with their quality and sleek design. Attention coffee-loving friends! This one warrants further investigation :)

Next, I simply can’t resist the Michael Kors Hamilton Large N/S Tote in Luggage. This retails practically EVERYWHERE for $348.00 (trust me, I keep an eye on these things). SHOP.CA’s price? A sweet $269.00, baby! That’s a savings of over 20% – enough to make me re-think my handbag situation…

Michael Kors is recognized as one of America’s preeminent designers for luxury sportswear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products through his Michael Kors Collection, KORS Michael Kors, MICHAEL Michael Kors labels, including women’s ready to wear, women’s accessories, and a full line of fragrance and beauty products for both women and men.

Got a baby on the way? Save BIG by buying last year’s Baby Jogger City Mini Single. The 2011 version has a slightly smaller underseat storage, and a manual vs automatic latch to secure the stroller closed – but other than that, the strollers are virtually identical. So, why pay $279.99 when you can grab this sweet Orange/Gray 2011 City Mini Single for just $199.99?

(If you’re budgeting for baby, this is a fabulous choice!)

The City Mini captures the essence of urban mobility. Its lightweight design makes it perfect for running errands or all day excursions in the urban jungle. Full stats and features can be found by following the link above.

Anyone still wear a good old fashioned watch? I’ve been relying on my phone to tell time for the last few years, but as I learned from Daniel Goddard, watches are jewelry – and wearing jewelry makes a personal statement. So if watches – and Timex watches in particular – are your thing, pop by SHOP.CA, where selected Timex pieces are 40%, like the Shock 30-Lap Classic Full Size watch  (just $48.00 after discount).

The Timex Ironman Shock-Resistant 30-Lap features a resin band with glossy finish and shock resistance for dependability and ruggedness. 100-hour chronograph with either lap or split in large digits, INDIGLO night-light, and much more. Accurately track your training with this durable full size sport watch as you run laps, bike miles or time drills. Also features customizable alarms, a 30-lap memory recall and a NIGHT-MODE so you can train at night or in the dark. Water resistant up to 200 meters so you can even track your workouts in the swimming pool or take it to the beach.

Want to find more deals at SHOP.CA? Check out their Pinterest Board, where deals are posted daily.

Click here to visit SHOP.CA.

Some people would consider it an advertorial faux pas to put together a list of “must-have” items… all from the same manufacturer. In fact, I normally pride myself on mixing it up; incorporating great pieces from a variety of different brands. But to understand my reasoning behind dedicating an entire post to Hamilton Beach, I suppose you would have had to be there with me at last week’s media preview.

It happened, friends. That twitchy, tingly feeling at the tips of my fingers, which usually signals I’m about to reach for my wallet, slap down my Visa card and declare,

“I’LL TAKE IT! I’LL BUY IT ALL! I WANT EVERYTHING!”

The last time this happened was H&M’s Summer 2011 collection. And since the price of most Hamilton Beach small appliances are actually less than an H&M outfit (I know, right? insane!) you can imagine how giddy I felt.

Want. Want. Want. Tra-la-la-la-la.

So this season, I’ve decided to forego a predictable $39.95 H&M tunic and treat my entire family to this $39.99 Mess Free Belgian Style Waffle Maker instead. Hmm… one season of wear vs. years of breakfast time happiness? No contest.

And just what makes it “Mess Free”? First, it comes with a pre-measured batter cup, so you’ll always pour the perfect amount (excellent for those who normally just eyeball it… and fail). Second, if you’re an incurable eyeballer and decide to pour away, the batter overflow channel keeps the excess from seeping all over your countertop. And third, you can break the finished waffle apart into 8 sticks, perfect for munching on the go (also guaranteed to be a hit with the kiddos.)

So what else makes the cut? Here are four more of my fave gotta-have gizmos from Hamilton Beach:

bébé All in One Baby Food Maker – Ah, products that give you little excuse for laziness. (Er – maybe this shouldn’t be on my list, after all.) But here’s the deal: hands up if you made your baby’s food from scratch… for more than two weeks. Okay, now hands up if you could have used a product that slices, steams and blends foods all in one? PLUS, can be used as a chopper or small blender? And is dishwasher safe? Like I said, zero excuses. So I present to you, the VERY BEST baby shower gift you could possibly give a mom-to-be. The Hamilton Beach bébé All in One Baby Food Maker retails for just $69.99 for the 3-cup model; $79.99 for the sophisticated 5-cup version. Go ahead. Be a champion gifter.

Party Dipper Food Warmer – Repeat after me: “I will not bring a bottle of Merlot to an informal dinner with friends.” Instead, follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Purchase the Hamilton Beach Party Dipper Food Warmer.
2. Whip up a quick spinach, artichoke or cheese dip, and place it in the Party Dipper.
3. Bring the dip to a party. It’ll stay nice and warm, and the removable ceramic dish and lid are microwave/dishwasher safe.
4. Leave the Party Dipper for your hostess. At just $14.99, you’ve now effectively given the finger to all those Merlot-toting guests. Ha ha.

Ice Shaver – This I MUST have. Because I swear that deplorable ice cream truck always slows down in front of my house, beckoning my two boys to spend every cent I earn on cold treats. $4 for a snow cone? Buy the Hamilton Beach Ice Shaver, and it’ll pay for itself after less than 12 uses. Not only can kids enjoy slushies, snow cones & icy treats with your favorite soda or fruit juice, but mommy and her girls can tip back tropical and mixed drinks once the little ones are in bed. Retails for $44.99. Heck ya.

5 Burner Outdoor Grillstation – Okay, so this isn’t really a “gizmo” as it is the answer to your summer feasting dreams. Since I really don’t speak BBQish, click here to view the specs. But know this: every inch of this Grillstation is engineered to make cooking outdoors a pleasure. From its extra large, easy to read gauges to its ergonomically designed hood and burners, even gals can take on the role of resident grill master.

(The Hamilton Beach website is actually a wonderful resource for recipes, including ones hot off the grill – Mahi Mahi With Ginger And Dill, Southwestern Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Grilled Tomatoes with Cumin Butter and more.)

And so I’ve only left about 26 Hamilton Beach items off my “Gotta-Have” list, and yes, my hand is still twitching with the need to splurge on these affordable, incredibly intuitive products. Check out their site for more amazing items, or just stick around… I’m sure I’ll be talking about another favourite product before long.

Click here to visit Hamilton Beach Canada.