We Finally Got a Vitamix

We finally got a Vitamix!!! You have to understand, I have wanted a Vitamix forever. I have sat through countless in store demos, marveling at how the same machine used to make frosties and smoothies could also make velvety looking soup in no time flat. The exorbitant cost ($500 and up) has always been prohibitive, so the Vitamix has always been on my mental wish list and on my vision boards. I even put it on our wedding registry, though I seriously doubted that any of our friends or family members would spring for such an expensive appliance (understandably so). 

Yet, as we looked at all the appliances on a table in the back wall of our kitchen (Sean calls it "Appliance Row"), a blender (his prior to our marriage), food processor (purchased with wedding gift money), ice cream maker (gift from one of his work events), Keurig (wedding gift), and KitchenAid mixer (purchased with wedding gift money), and a Breville juice fountain (mine from before our marriage) - we thought about how little we use the majority of them. We reasoned that since a Vitamix is supposed to be multifunctional, buying one could allow us get rid of (donate to Goodwill) the juicer, food processor, blender and ice cream maker (all relatively new and in good working order) - thus helping us to clear some clutter and streamline our kitchen. 

We also came to see the Vitamix as a helpful tool to encourage us to eat better and to make more of our own food at home. So far we have only made a basic salsa that Sean thought was good, but I felt was too watery (I had the power up too high, so it came out more like salsa juice). I'm looking forward to making our own almond butters, pestos, and more. We'll keep you posted on how we actually like it. 

Finding "the right" Vitamix was actually more complicated than I expected. Prior to searching for one, I thought that there were only two categories of Vitamix: new and refurbished (used). Nope, their website (https://www.vitamix.com/Shop) had so many options that it made my head spin. I just wanted the ones I had seen at the demos. No muss, no fuss. Only, all of the iterations of Vitamix basically look the same to me. I reviewed the various specs and many of them seemed to do the same thing. I read blogs (this one from http://joyofblending.com/which-vitamix-to-buy/) The Joy of Blending was pretty helpful) and watched a number of Youtube videos (I like the ones fromVitamix with Kimberly Snyder as well as Blending with Henry, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKLjKBl2WzQ ). 

Ultimately, it came down to a matter of getting the most for our money. Costco has a package, http://www.costco.com/Vitamix-5200-Blender-Super-Package.product.11609068.html for $499, that included the Vitamix, a whole foods cookbook (actually a pretty comprehensive binder of recipes and insight on how to use the machine) a whole grains mini cookbook, a DVD (we have not watched it yet - currently binging on Season 3 of Orange Is the New Black) a dry blade container for grains (which would have cost upwards of an additional $120 if we had bought it separately) and tampers for both the wet blade and dry blade containers. It also has a 7 year warranty. In comparison to the other offers I found online, this seemed to be the best value. 

We are still getting used to Ruby (what I have chosen to name our Vitamix since she is red), and definitely look forward to sharing how we incorporate her in our cooking/healthy lifestyle journey.