I am so excited today!!! After waiting for years and year, justifying the expense, saving up my pennies, and foregoing extra counter space in my tiny kitchen…

I decided I didn’t want to live without one of these anymore.

Rewind to a couple weeks ago, when my hero-of-a-hubby asked me what I wanted for Christmas I said “Nothing.”

He said “Really? Nothing?” (I know he was thinking “Yay! I’m going to get off scott-free! I don’t have to do any Christmas Eve shopping this year?!)

And I said, “Well, maybe just one thing.” (pause for effect…)

“Anything you want…” he answers…

Me: “OK – I think I’d like that KitchenAid stand mixer I’ve had my eye on for years… ”

::: silence :::

Then we saw a great deal on Amazon.com… soooo, I get to put it to use for this holiday season! It IS quite the investment. But I hear these things live on FOREVER!

Fast forward to today… I could hear Mr UPS driving up the street… and ran to the front door. I barely got the box inside the door and had to set it down and take a nice loooooooong look at it.

Here’s what came in the box… a user manual that also includes recipes.

A spiral dough hook…

A paddle…

Also included (but I was too excited and quit taking pictures): 11-wire whisk and a plastic piece that fits onto the bowl called a “pouring shield”.

So, here’s all the pertinent details for the new addition to our family….

Name: undecided
Length: 16 1/2 inches
Weighing in at a hearty 25 lbs!

This is a 6 quart bowl. The bowl sits on a lever that moves up and down. Some people like this style, others prefer the kind where the top tilts up. I’ve never used either… so I didn’t have a preference.

Now… time to find a place for it on my itsy bitsy countertop.

…all tucked in nicely between the knives and the utensil holder and I can pull it forward easily for baking purposes.

And here’s a fantastic tip: Today someone told me she put her mixer on a placemat… then it’s super easy to simply pull the placemat (and mixer) toward you when you’re ready to use it! GENIUS! I tell you, I have genius friends!!! (Now – I have to find my stash of placemats and find just the right one!)

Color me happy!!!

(Can you see my reflection???)

enjoy your time in the kitchen…