My guilty pleasure is watching Judge Judy. I love her to bits. [Edited to fix horrendous typo.]

If I buy something and love it, I can't feel guilty about it anymore. When I first sprang for a Nespresso and Aeroccino, I thought, WTH did I do that when I never drink these things ever? Hah! It has become my 3 p.m. sacrament and I believe they're worth every penny. The Aeroccino is a treasure. My first one died a few days before the warranty expired and I received a new one the next day. I am so not feeling guilty about this.

If it ends up giving you pleasure, stop feeling guilty about it!! :)

From a modest budget, "starter home" point of view, my guilty pleasures were a granite counter, and stainless steel appliances (yes, I was fine with the white ones I had but the ss just pleases my eye so! and I've had no trouble with keeping them clean as so many complain). Guilty because I could have gone with less expensive options that would still suit the neighborhood.

Good point. I don't feel guilty about anything, Linelle, especially my Aeroccino. But, like someone else mentioned, I don't lust after anything super-expensive. I'm happy and content with the humble finishes I'm choosing. They suit my home and personality just fine.

ediblekitchen, I barely cover the frother, which is about 4 oz (just measured) and it makes enough froth for 1-2 drinks, depending on how much froth you like. The first time I used it, I filled it to the max fill line and had way more froth than I needed. I ended up putting the carafe in the fridge and re-frothing it a few times to use it up.

I think what qualifies it as a guilty purchase (not pleasure) is that I usually never purchase anything without a lot of research and then I wait for sales. I accompanied DH to a week-long conference and was running out of trails and museums to go visit while he was working so I went shopping (something I rarely do). I walked into a Williams-Sonoma and they offered me a coffee with froth made in the Aeroccino. Oh, yummy. I bought it on the spot and bought milk for our room to make froth that very night. So it was the rash, on-the-spot purchase that I feel a tad guilty about not the item itself. :)

I did read reviews later hoping I hadn't made a mistake. In the reviews, a lot of people reported that their unit died after only a year or two. It seems to be a common problem but others chimed in that they unplug it when not using it and, in those cases, they don't seem to die so I always unplug. Also, it sounds like the older Aeroccino's were more inclined to burn out than the newer model (but that's kinda unclear, more conjecture based on date of reviews). I discovered that Breville makes one after my purchase. From the reviews, I think they make equally good froth but the Breville owners don't report burn-out issues. Of course, the Breville costs more. The Aerrocino is cuter, lol. I think if mine dies a premature death, I will replace with the Breville just because I don't want to keep replacing it.

Oh, last thing and then I'll quit with this threadjack: If you don't do dairy, it makes excellent froth with almond, coconut and soy milks. I've read it works with rice milk as well but I never buy that so can't relate my own experience.

Happy frothing!

Funkycamper, I use a large mug (16 oz. I think). First I use the plain whisk for the latte part. Then for the cappuccino part I put in the wire spring whisk, fill to the max. froth line and use it all. I'm in love with the froth. Cannot get enough of it. I'm sure you've learned never to fill higher than that line for the extreme froth. :)

My luxury was the prep sink in my relatively small kitchen. It is more of a bar sink, really, with just a filtered cold & insta-hot faucet in the end of the island nearest the family room. I did not need it, but it is so cute, and keeps folks making drinks or rummaging thru the fridge on that side of the kitchen, and out of my work zones. Did I mention also that is is cute? A total waste. And I love it every day.

1. I say stove, too, as the go to word for range. Born and raised in NY. I call it range when I want to sound accurate or more professional, kitchen-wise ;). Aren't regional linguistics so interesting??

2. I would love to have a drain board sink, either on legs or on a cabinet, like the one in A Christmas Story. I don't have a farmhouse or updated kitchen, but I adore those sinks.

I say range on Gardenweb...but out West, it's stove. Range is where you put the cattle :)

My guilty pleasure will be having my mom here to cook for me! LOL We'll have a nice new (to us) kitchen with an incredible cook....what more could we want?

peggies- exactly - I've always thought "range" was the accurate technical term for the thing, but stove is what everyone says in normal conversation. I grew up in Northern California but everywhere I've lived people tend to only use "range" when they are being precise (or pedantic ;) )

edit: also, people tend to use stove casually to refer to anything with burners. You say "oops, I think I left the stove on", not "I think I left the cooktop on"

LL and others of this ilk: I say range on Gardenweb...but out West, it's stove. Range is where you put the cattle

Amen.

I might say range to appear urbane, but it's a stove. I also usually call those boxes in the kitchen "cupboards."

No guilt about it but I was sooo happy that I was able to afford getting granite.

It's a stove here too, I only say range on GW.

Coke is all carbonated beverages but my husband (his family came from Canada) has started converting me to calling them soda.

Also, tea is iced!!

Allright all ya dadgum fakers! if I do not see pictures, I do not believe a word yer sayin! ;)

(I am teasing.. I just like pictures.. lol)

You want me to post a picture of my mom??? :)

She said "No pictures" LOL But here's the apple tree, where we'll get apples for pie! This is an earlier picture....the apples won't be ripe until October.

My favorite section of my granite.

Okay wiseg.. er lady!.. I meant your kitchens and favorite items.. and by items I mean kitchen appliances!.. lol :P

I showed you mine, you need to show me yours!

You asked for that one.. lol

I will tell you I tracked down the guy that knows the guy that knows the guy that made an awesome kitchen about 10 years ago that a lot of folks love and he is shipping me a sample of the paint used so I can match it. My wife and I could not be happier! It took us a while to find just the right color.

Russ

Linelle - Yes, me too, "cupboard" which rhymes with "Hubbard." I didn't ever call them cabinets until after immersion in GW.

paintedpeggies - Yes, regional linguistics are fascinating. When I did that fun NY Times Dialect Quiz, it placed me perfectly in Rochester, NY, but DD, who has never lived elsewhere, came out as Midwestern. I blame TV.

All of you are making me want an Aeroccino and Nespresso.

Just for you, Russ, my granite backsplash. (Actually, it's gneiss.)

I love espressos but hate the cleanup afterwards with all the little pieces. I would kill for one in the mornings before work, but they take so much time to make and then clean up afterwards, coffee will have to do. My wife and I have the old standard 12-cup pot and we always have to fill it back up with water before we leave for work. Going to look for a 18-ish cup pot one of these days.. heh.

Now, we do not drink 18 cubs.. but we have coffee mugs that fill up to 2 cups at a time then take travel mugs.

I try to use instant cappuccinos at work, but they are not near as good as the ones I get from 7-11, the cheap ones.. heh. We do not waste our money on the high end coffee places, or we would not be able to afford the stove!

Russ

Ginny.. that is drop dead beautiful!

My Vitamix. It used to me mine, but DH has taken it. It's all his, now.

It's a stove here too, I only say range on GW.

Me, too. Born and raised in Washington state. And carbonated drinks are pop. Once in a blue moon, I hear someone say soda.

First I use the plain whisk for the latte part. Then for the cappuccino part I put in the wire spring whisk, fill to the max. froth line and use it all. I'm in love with the froth. Cannot get enough of it. I'm sure you've learned never to fill higher than that line for the extreme froth. :)

Linelle, actually, no, never over-filled because I read in the reviews about the mess if you do!

I usually keep it simple. I just whip up my froth and pour/spoon it in my regular coffee. Usually I add some flavoring to the coffee first but sometimes I put some flavoring in the milk to froth, too. Not fancy but tasty. Yours sound divine. I may have to experiment a bit more with different ways to make things. Thanks for the tips.

ETA:

Linelle - Yes, me too, "cupboard" which rhymes with "Hubbard." I didn't ever call them cabinets until after immersion in GW.

Another "me, too!"

Russ, like I mentioned above, I just use regular coffee. The Aeroccino just needs to be rinsed out. It's quick and easy and tastes yummy. Save the fancier, messier drinks for evenings and weekends.

Russ, you are hilarious. I agree with you. It never happened if posted without a picture. Ha! :P

Since my house is still being built, here is a stock photo of it.

I love the discussion here about the words we use. I always find it fun and fascinating. Since we are in a summer slow down on GW I'm going to start of thread of these terms just for fun!

I plan to get one of those puppies also, not sure which. Probably get a Kohler, they seem to be good quality.

That one sure is nice!

Don't mind my humor.. I try to keep it clean, mix it up a bit, so the forum talk goes on and people do not tire of answering all my 50 billion questions which are normally just me being bored and wanting to talk kitchen since my wife falls asleep listening to it.. heh

Russ

Russ, hey, we're talking Nespresso here. You use their little pods. You drop 'em in, then you eject them. You never even see any grounds. As long as you have water in the chamber, they're ready to go. Take about 20 seconds to warm up. A perfect brew every time. The Aeroccino looks like a small beer tankard, also easy to fill and clean.

ooohh.. link me one of those bad babies! ;)

R

I took the regional dialect test and it pegged me perfectly as West Coast. Yes, cupboard rhymes with Hubbard, duh! I don't like any carbonated drinks (aside from beer) but I guess I classify them all as soda.

Gneiss is very Nice!!!

nm.. found them! heh

Curious.. the coffee machines that we have at work have those packets and to me, that stuff looks like it gets expensive. How much is it for packets? Expensive? (in terms I get 20 oz coffees for like a buck 60 ;) )

R

I agree we need pictures- much more fun!! Here's my range with the steam oven on the left.

Here's my mom's baking area...also toaster space. I posted more before photos on another thread :)

We'll be painting, but the countertop will stay the same in this area. I just got these canisters for her on Ebay...she likes monarchs! And the cheese dish was my Goodwill find last week.

That's probably my 'guilty pleasure' is all the cute accessories we're putting together for our new kitchen. It will be a unique space. LOL

Russ, the pods I get, with shipping, work out to be about 73 cents each. Add a little extra for the milk and 1/2 & 1/2 I use. A buck, max? I drink one per day, that's it. I get great pleasure from this ritual and resulting brew, so I consider it a dollar well spent. I surely piss away far more that I can't even pin to anything specific. We all gotta decide what a thing is worth to us.

Lavendar - so few use bread boxes anymore.. very quaint :)

Johnsoro - nice! It is configured the same as the one I plan to get! How do you like the griddle? Do you find yourself using that more than you expected?

Russ

We decided on a vintage theme...which means Goodwill is a great asset! But we got that bread box years ago.

Johnsoro- wow. That is a big boy range!

LL - the canisters are charming and perfect for the overall theme! It will be a happy kitchen.

I was in a little pub in Sicily years ago. They had these little cups of "coffee" and they would spoon tons of sugar in. I sat down with the (had to be like 80-ish) year old men. I was 19. They adopted me that morning.. heh.

I had one 1 cup and loved it so much I had 2 more.I did not know I could get so much work done...I was bouncing off the walls but you ain't had coffee like the coffee you have there!;)

R

Mine will be my backsplash if I can ever decide on a tile! I have to save up some more now because the $ I had for been putting aside for my bs, just got spent elsewhere. I waited too long to make a decision. I am stuck in ABB H-E- double hockey sticks! I need to post a "Help me get out of ABB" thread soon.

I also call it a stove and cupboards. Icebox is the fridge sometimes. Trash here is called rubbish. Like, "Will you please take out the rubbish?" The shopping cart is called "a wagon". Knobs and pulls, I just call them handles. My Dad calls all brands of soda, coke too. First time my SIL said to me, "Want a pop?" I had no idea what she meant. Did I offend her and she want to smack me? :-)

I took the quiz and it put me in Colorado in the Denver area. I've lived in Texas my whole life but I frequently have people ask me where I'm from because my "accent" is not like others.

I put it down to the fact that I took voice and diction lessons when I was younger. Fun quiz though.

Rebunky, you crack me up. (That's also a Texas thing, I think). And shopping carts here are called buggies.

You crack me up is a West Coast thing too.

Mine is the RH Benson pendant lights. I have enough lighting from the kitchen recessed lights but I love the pendants so much that I want to put two over the breakfast area. DH wasn't too fond about the added cost to the already over budget kitchen but he said if that will make me happy, then he's all for it. Happy wife, happy life :)

I wish I could triple that "happy wife" comment.. lol

I do guilt well. Which is why I still don't have my granite counters! I'm trying to source a used one, in flowy blues. And a used copper top. That might be hard. (I wonder if I could make a copper penny counter.) The guilt is lessened if I get used stuff. Plus then with the savings I could afford to rip out a cupboard and get my fridge in a better spot in my Kitchen! I wouldn't feel guilty at all about that! I'd have flow then! sorry to go off topic.

Rebunky- That's so funny! I remember thinking the same thing....as in, do you want me to pop you one? LOL

When I was really young, we lived in Arkansas for a few years and everyone said soda. When we moved back West, that's when we heard pop. My brother and I finally got used to it...after ducking a couple of times :)

Mine is our backsplash, in particularly the Brittany & Coggs pieces above the cooktop and random pieces throughout the kitchen. The fact that the tile was made in the town we live in and the owner had some input into the design makes it extra special.

Quartz countertops. Bookshelves for cookbooks. As wide an induction oven as my layout will allow me!

The other thing is... the contractor has in our contract that I'll be getting a stainless steel double sink. I'm going to be changing this -- it would look terrible with a log exterior, medium wood finished cabinets, black major appliances, aged bronze fixtures and pulls, sage green interior walls, white (eco luna white) or green (silestone olive green) quartz countertops. It would be cheaper to just grin and bear it, but I'll hate it.

I took the NYT quiz. it gave 3 cities that most match how I say things... 1 was my home town - lol! I moved away from there 31 yrs ago. none of them are close to AZ.

I'm sorry, Russ, I just saw your kind words as I read through this thread. Thank you! And you, too, Linelle. I don't seem to be getting all of the posted comments in my email, but some from this thread did come through. Strange. I'm going to add this problem to the "complaints about Houzz" thread started today.

NYT quiz put me right in NJ/NY, where I grew up. Pretty accurate. I think the deciding word was sneakers ;)

Russ, I love having the griddle on the range. It gets a lot of use, mostly breakfast foods for us. But it is really versatile- I know you will enjoy yours as well!

My guilty purchase for my new kitchen is my cranberry 36" AGA. We are in the roughing things in stage now so will be awhile before I get it. Can't wait to be done with this project.

Mine is my hard working duo, Kohler Stages and Karbon. I got over the guilt immediately as they are worth there weight in gold to me!

You all are cracking me up! We are still in a rental, so of course everything is total crap in the kitchen. But the things my husband loves the most (he's the cook of the house) would be the VItamix we got earlier this year, and the Keurig we've had for a few years now. He's a total coffee nut and loves that thing to pieces. Oh he also loves the Vitamix especially now that he's figured out how to make an awesome hollandaise sauce in it. We have lots of eggs benedict now. It's great.