I'm Thankful for... CITY KITCHEN, in Seattle WA

Just 23 months ago I decided it was time to buy a real, grown-up stand mixer (who doesn’t?!). I headed out to all the main appliance sellers in downtown Seattle. When I walked in and said I was looking for a stand mixer, every single store pointed me straight to the Kitchen Aids. I’d ask about the warranty, how is it made, how powerful is it, what works the best and what isn’t so great about it. I was stunned with the lack of information. The sales people couldn’t tell me one thing about the Kitchen Aids except, “it comes in pink” as they rushed off.

Then I walked into City Kitchens. It wasn’t my first trip to there, but it was the first time I was looking for a major purchase. I asked the same questions and to my delight the sales people could answer all my questions!! They did a great job of comparing and contrasting the machines for me. In the end, I decided to go with a plain, white, Cuisinart (it’s just fine that it’s not pink).

It doesn't do justice when I say I LOVE my mixer. I talk to it. Every time I use it, I say, "Aaron, I love my mixer.". It's true. Ask him. He loves wood clamps. I love my mixer.

Fast forward nearly 2 years:

I’m about to make some pumpkin bread. I plugged in my machine. The timer light went on. I set it to "low" and pressed “on”. My beautiful machine just made a clicking noise. I tried again, “click”. A sinking feeling came over me because I knew it was bad. I plugged it in a different socket. “Click.” I begged and pleaded with the mixer to ‘pleeeeeease work,’ “Click”. I messed with the machine for a long time before pronouncing it dead. I curled up on the couch and went into mourning. My hubby tried to resuscitate the mixer too. He confirmed what I already knew. My beautiful machine had a burnt out motor. SO SAD.

I spent the next week checking on options for getting it fixed. I'd occasionally plug it in and try it again to see if it was magically fixed. Of course it just "clicked" and then I'd curl back up on the couch. *sigh*

I'll spare you the details but there were no good options. The people at Cuisinart at least assured me that they almost never have calls for burnt out motors which made me feel a little bit better about all my research from two years ago.

Of all things it’s the week of Thanksgiving and I really wanted my favorite kitchen appliance, the stand mixer. Thoroughly bummed out about the situation, I called City Kitchens. After an extremely short conversation you all told me to “bring it in. We’ll exchange it.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “What?!” I tapped on the phone received, “Ah…pardon me… did you say ‘exchange it’?” That’s when I declared my un-dying love for City Kitchen!! The next night, as I walked in the door, the sales associate said, “Oh. We’re expecting you.” and immediately asked someone to bring out a new mixer for me. WHAT? I didn’t have to stand there and explain myself? They didn’t have to stare at with skepticism and say, “um let me call a manager…” How great is that??? I’ll tell you: It’s Super Great!

From now on City Kitchen is my one and only kitchen store!!


Thanksgiving break has been a lot of fun.
We went to Hannah & Adam's for dinner and it was delicious. There were a 1/2 dozen really great kids there, though after about three hours I couldn't take it anymore. All that bouncing up and down.

Now we're clearing out the old studio in anticipation of starting the 2009 Studio Remodel. Wish us luck. This should be good for some blog posts. I met the contractors yesterday and they seem like good people.

Tonight is dinner and game night at out house. I made some cinnamon ice cream --- one of my seasonal favorites. (My second favorite kitchen appliance is the ice cream maker.)

Have a happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Cheers,
Anner & Aaron

M&C Baby Shower

We had Martin and Cynthia's baby shower this weekend and I, for one, had a GREAT Time.  We had good food and even better company.  Jane and Denise flew in for the weekend and it was fantastic to see them!  Sorry folks, no shower games; just presents and fun conversation.  I made the center pieces (which I'm very proud of) AND my latest sock critter and a blanket.  I've gotta say, it's the cuttest critter yet, and the blanket was super soft.  I was quick to tell M&C that I had made it by hand...litterally.  I don't own a sewing machine.  Martin asked, "every little stitch?".  Why yes!

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween!!

It was a good Halloween. We went trick-or-treating with Adam, 8 years old. He was dressed as the grim reaper, complete with scythe. He looked really good. Aaron went as a bit of a pimp daddy but when Adam asked he said, "I'm dressed in mardi gras colors." Adam took that at face value and headed on to more important things: candy! I was a witch, but that would be impossible to tell from the pictures because I was in a rain coat. That's life in Seattle.

We carved some really cool looking pumpkins. Mine is the mummy and Aaron's is the Arty One, of course.

Back at the ranch, the dahlias keep blooming. We have a white dahlia that just bloomed and is about 10" in diameter. Unbelievable!!

And the wedding tree, in spite of the crow-damage, seems to still be with us and has turned the most brilliant shade of crimson.

Then of all things the Fall Crocuses have started blooming. We weren't really expecting them to bloom just a few weeks after we planted them, but there they are!! They look a little weak but I bet next year they'll be really cool. They were certainly a happy surprise.

Finally, in some really exciting news, our friend Louie is heading off to save the world. He started small, when him and his wife Hannah saved our wedding by taking over a million of the last minute details and playing guitar music for us. Now he's reaching out to earthquake victims. He's keeping a blog. We can't wait to hear about is experience and wish him the very best.

Thanks for Louie! Here's Louie's blog: http://hodrpsg.blogspot.com/

Hope your November is starting off spectacularly! Ours sure is. Life is good. :)