Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Our First Christmas as a Family of 4

Popping in with a bit of late night blogging to recap our Christmas. We're still on vacation mode around here and have enjoyed having Mr. Lovebird off work (and no snow to contend with). 

We had a "stay in your PJs all day" kind of Christmas down in Maryland, and it was just what I needed:

Nia and I wore the PJs we won as part of DesignMom's giveaway! (Grayson will be able to fit his next Christmas and sadly, they don't come in Uka's size.)



The rest of the holiday we were blessed to see both sides of our family. With so many hugs and snuggles to go around, the kids loved it especially! We also saw Annie (SEE IT!) and a couple old friends who we'll no longer be able to see as often since my parents are leaving the DMV.








We enjoyed our first, first class flight as a family of 4 - it definitely was worth it for the return leg of the trip, and I vote to make it a tradition!
Regarding gifts, we're still enjoying our family gift that came a bit early - Nia especially likes eating raw kale before it can make it in! We skipped over Nia's princess obsession to gift her and her brother swimming lessons which start next week. And because of Nia's fascination with time and her schedule we gave her this and this and so far they're a hit!

Next up is a quick out of town visit to see dear friends then we have a family member visiting the rest of the week - I really enjoy eating my way showing newbies around Portsmouth! I'm also going to do some planning and organization for 2015 - I'm putting this and this to good use. (I almost need a full one week sabbatical alone at home to do so, but I'll take what I can get!)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! What was your favorite gift to give? I loved sending my Grandma Mary these - they're her fave!



P.S. I just ordered our annual New Year's cards. After selecting the pics Mr. Lovebird and I decided we need to do pro family pics here on out! Do you do a Christmas card or a New Year's card?

Monday, December 22, 2014

Recreating Holiday Memories with Johnsonville Sausage

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Johnsonville; all opinions expressed are my own. 


Growing up my parents were good at creating Christmas memories for me and my siblings especially centered around food (thank goodness for stretchy pants!). This year will be our last going to Maryland to see them for Christmas and just as we had a last Christmas in Ohio before they moved to the DMV, I'm still looking forward to some things staying the same: most importantly, the delicious menu on Christmas day.

Throwback Christmas - my mom has epic sewing skills too!
I've never replicated my mom's breakfast casserole she makes as a labor of love (she detests eggs but makes it anyway!), but this year when Johnsonville reached out to me to create a breakfast casserole I used my mom's recipe as inspiration. Although I helped her make it time and time again, I don't know exact measurements so I was unsure if it'd be as good as hers.

Starting with Johnsonville sausage, I selected the Vermont Maple flavor which has real maple syrup. Next, I thought about which breakfast items I like most: challah bread French toast, eggs, and cheddar cheese. I have a delicious stuffed French toast recipe I like to make that uses Texas toast and a critical step is drying out the bread plus I remember my mom would always make it the day before so I knew I too would want to make it as a make-ahead recipe.

It turned out to be super simple and quite addictive (I even ate it for dinner!). If you haven't determined your Christmas menu yet, I promise you this make-ahead recipe is a winner:

Johnsonville Sausage Challah Bread French Toast

Ingredients:
  • 1 package of Johnsonville Vermont Maple breakfast sausages 
  • 1 loaf of challah bread
  • 10 eggs
  • 2 cups of heavy cream
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • Butter
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon


Directions:
  • In a 200 degree oven place 1" cubes of challah bread on a wire rack over a baking sheet and allow to dry for 15 minutes
  • While the bread is drying remove the casing from the sausage and brown it then drain
  • Whisk eggs, cream and sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg (to your liking)
  • Butter a 9x13 baking dish and toss in half of the bread cubes, sprinkle with half the sausage and half the cheese pouring half the egg mixture on top
  • Repeat previous step with remaining ingredients and wrap container tightly with plastic wrap then foil over it, refrigerating overnight (up to 24 hours)
  • The next day preheat oven to 375 degrees, remove wrap only leaving foil; bake covered with foil for 25 minutes, then remove foil and bake an additional 25 minutes; you'll know it's done when a knife comes out clean, but be careful not to over bake as it will continue cooking when you remove it from the oven
  • Allow it to cool about 10 minutes before cutting into squares and serving (top with syrup and confectioner's sugar for extra yumminess!); makes 12 servings (or 6 if you're in my home)

I'm sure native New Englanders will disapprove, but my husband and I do not like the taste of real maple syrup. I know, I know. I've tried to like it, but I've been conditioned by the fake stuff all my life and can't break the habit. At least there was real maple syrup in the Johnsonville sausage so I cut myself a bit of slack! To make my breakfast a bit more authentic, I did have a cup of Green Mountain breakfast blend coffee. From Vermont, it is some of the best coffee I've had in my life and goes perfectly with the breakfast casserole.

To learn more about Johnsonville (and for coupons!) be sure to visit their website and follow on Facebook and Twitter

Does your family have a traditional Christmas meal? What do you like to put in your breakfast casserole?



P.S. To see Nia's 1st Christmas click here! If I can find her 1st Christmas PJs before we leave I'll have Grayson wear them.

A Pre-Christmas State of the Lovebirds

Teething is kicking.my.butt. Every morning I feel like:



It's nearly 11a.m. at the time I'm sitting down to write this, and I'm only on my first cup of coffee, but I already know I'm going to need another. The little man is asleep at last after being up from 12:30a.m.-4a.m. and to top it off Nia has a nasty cold so we're huddled up trying to get to 100% before we leave for Maryland on Wednesday.

I'm going to do a bit of bulleted stream of consciousness especially because I've had a lot of people asking about our continued transition to New Hampshire:

  • It seems like we're coming into a natural schedule with school Tuesday-Thursday and swimming on Mondays followed by lunch out and story time ; Friday's we attend a small playgroup in Maine - we were blessed to find a wonderful group of moms and Nia's especially enjoyed the children she's met and having a regular playgroup to look forward to (also Nia keeps asking if we get to stay here and it's too cute!)
  • Our 6th annual holiday cookie exchange last weekend went well - we had a few friends up from Boston as well as some new friends stop by; while it wasn't nearly as large as our previous parties it was a fun opportunity to open our home up and I look forward to hosting more get-togethers
  • We had a bright spot in our weekend when we went to the Strawberry Banke Museum's 35th annual Candlelight Stroll; there were over 2 hours of historic homes to tour, but with the new ice skating rink in plain view Nia only wanted to do that so we spent most of our time on the ice

  • We still have quite a few boxes to unpack. It's mostly books in the office, children's clothing and toiletries. With Mr. Lovebird home next week I'm planning to finish it up

  • We've started juicing. Yeah, yeah we're late to the party, but we really needed to drop a few pounds around here and since I've been able to consistently get to the YMCA when Nia's in school (thank God for the childcare included!) this is one more step in the right direction. I'm excited to make the recipes on Simple Green Smoothie's Instagram feed; I met the founders at Alt in January and I've been obsessed ever since

  • A bit of blogging business: I'm sure you've noticed I've had more sponsored posts lately. Many are seasonal and/or related to baby gear. Thank you for supporting the businesses that support Harlem Lovebirds and I look forward to getting back to more lifestyle editorial incorporated in the coming months (annnnd finally posting my birth story and Blogalicious recap). For daily updates you can always find me on Instagram!

  • Oh and I can't leave without sharing a cute pic of Gray from Instagram this morning:



P.S. I'll be back later today with an amazing make-ahead breakfast casserole recipe just in time for Christmas!

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Mama's Time Out with Vitabath Spice is Nice

Disclosure: I received Vitabath to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Growing up in a family of 6 I was used to military-style showers: a minute to soap up and a minute to rinse. Now as a mom I find it's pretty much the same. I rarely have time for a leisurely shower, but meeting Vitabath at Getting Gorgeous this past summer made me want to change that. Their scents are luscious and just in time for Christmas I gave their Spice is Nice body wash and lotion set a try. 


With its blend of pumpkin, allspice, rum and maple syrup topped with cream cheese icing, the truth is it makes me want to eat it! I've been averse to sweet smelling bath scents in the past, but Spice is Nice has turned out to be a special treat for me. Initially I was concerned if it'd be effective on my skin. I get really dry skin especially when temperatures drop (it's often in the 20s here already!) and so far the body wash and the lotion have kept my skin hydrated. I'm used to most lotion feeling watery when it hits my skin, but Vitabath actually feels like silk. The best part is that it's chock full of antioxidants like acai, goji and manogsteen and vitamins including vitamins A, B3 and E plus it's free of parabens and sulfates.

Of course kids can't let moms keep nice things to themselves and Nia quickly got wind of my yummy Spice is Nice body wash. The body wash also doubles as bubble bath so I've been letting her use it too - she approves especially because "it smells like cookies."



If you want to get your own set of Spice is Nice or stock up for next season's gifts, now is the time: it's only $9.95 on clearance (regular price $21.50)! To purchase click here. There are also several other special holiday scents on sale including Sweet Vanilla Amber, another one of my faves (my sister even admitted to sneaking some of the lotion off my counter when she visited during Thanksgiving!).

How do you treat yourself during the busy holiday season? Are you a usual 2-minute showerer like me?



Friday, December 19, 2014

4 Winners!: Baby Banana Brushes

4 weeks ago (really?!) at Nia's Thanksgiving program 
TGIF! We're having a Friday that's turned a bit upside down due to a nasty cough, delayed nap situation with lil Gray and a babysitter cancellation (I have NO luck with sitters up here ughhhh!), but my sister just shared this on her Facebook wall, and it really made me LOL so thank you to the hilarity of the internet for coming through for me today!

Anyway, here are the winners of the Baby Banana Brush giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congrats! I'll be in touch shortly so you can receive your prize!

How are you spending your last weekend before Christmas? I'll be wrapping and sending a few things then heading here tomorrow. Can't wait!



Thursday, December 18, 2014

A Tale of 4 Headboards

The holiday season is a festive time often filled with story telling. It is in this same vein that I'm sharing quite a story with you today. Grab a cup of tea and settle in, it's long, twisted and confusing, but I promise it has a good outcome!

Some of you may recall Mr. Lovebird helping me with a DIY headboard project a year ago. It was a challenge and costing nearly $200 since upgrading to a king size bed in our new place here in New Hampshire we decided to forgo the DIY route and purchase one instead. 

I was initially thinking "headboard" only and when I had a Target gift card burning a hole in my pocket I decided to apply it towards purchasing this beauty which I shared on Instagram:


Thoughts of myself lounging on my sophisticated headboard floated through my head until two days later an email from Wayfair popped into my inbox with this:



I clicked the link on the Madison Square Bed and saw it in a gorgeous Olive shade annnnnd it was about $100 less than the original headboard that was en route plus it included a footboard. We had already ordered our king bed (from Amazon, I might add - Mr. Lovebird's idea!) and we also had a box spring coming. I realized the original headboard from Target could require a frame, but I remembered I still had our queen frame which I hoped to sell after we got rid of our bed before leaving NJ. I saw on Amazon that some frames are adjustable and while we checked ours to see if it was, it turns out it wasn't so an additional purchase would be in order if we stuck with the Target headboard. 

I called Mr. Lovebird and shared with him the new development. We decided the Wayfair bed was indeed a better purchase since we could just drop in the box spring, mattress and be done so I ordered it. 

A few days later I got this notification:


I was so confused but jumped into action checking other sites for the Olive headboard but only came across other colors and they were substantially more and/or didn't have free shipping like Wayfair. 

At this point Mr. Lovebird proclaimed that he was fine sleeping on the boxspring and mattress on the floor as we had been, but me being like any other human Type A Quiana insisted we have a proper bed so I continued the search. 

Lo and behold I came across this one at Walmart:

{Image Credit: Walmart}
It wasn't quite what I wanted but it was in budget (only $299 at the time - since then it's now $289), but the issue was that it didn't require a box spring which meant we'd I'd have to sell our new one - yet another hassle. With the outstanding purchases already waiting to be refunded Mr. Lovebird was losing patience, but I assured him that I'd keep track of everything until it was resolved. 

So I ordered the Walmart headboard and canceled the Target order that was already in transit. This involved not only alerting Target but their 3rd party carrier who would be delivering it - they were very friendly and appreciative that I gave them a heads up which helped avoid extra fees and wasted time. Sidenote: I had to stay on top of Target for the refund. They didn't immediately process it when I canceled the order. 

For those of you who lost track we're up to headboard #3. My credit card company even became concerned and sent this:



Now for the fun part . . .

While awaiting the Walmart headboard and stressing about having to sell the box spring, I got this email from Wayfair:


What?! Usually when I order from Wayfair (disclosure: I'm one of their featured bloggers) if something is out of stock there's a notice right there on the item page with an estimate of if/when it will be back in stock. When my Olive headboard order was canceled there wasn't an inventory notice; it was just GONE. This time around it was indeed the same model of headboard in stock, but it was a different color: Taupe. While it appeared cream colored in the picture, the user reviews confirmed that it was more of a khaki color which is what we actually wanted. 

So what did I do? Like any good shopper I ORDERED IT! YAAAAAS, I did. Did I tell Mr. Lovebird? I think so, but I knew one thing for sure: after what happened the first go around, I was NOT going to cancel the Walmart headboard until the Wayfair headboard was certain. 

I forgot to mention the Walmart headboard was a "ship to store" purchase which saved me shipping costs (woo hoo!), but it was arriving in two boxes. Mr. Lovebird was adamant that he would have no part in my pick-up shenanigans and as the delivery date neared I was nervous about how I'd load up the car with two kids once the boxes arrived, but I figured, "Hey, I have a Wellesley degree! I can do it!"

I cautiously placed my order for headboard #4 (still waiting for the refund of the initial Target headboard) and waited for the purchase to go through. I checked two days later and saw the transaction had posted to my account. "Great!" I thought, "This might actually happen."

Then.

I got a notification from Walmart that the first box had arrived and was ready to pick up. Then a day went by and no notice on the 2nd box. I then decided it was time to cancel the order but then a strange email arrived that the 2nd box was delayed. I decided to call and cancel the entire order (ultimately, it turned out it was damaged in shipping). Boy, were they confused! They thought I had the bed in my home and I had to explain multiple times that it was ship to store and one box is at the store while the 2nd box is delayed. It took nearly an hour to sort it out, but alas they did and I received email confirmation on my refund (and I've since received it). 

At last! Delivery day of my Wayfair headboard arrived:


Mr. Lovebird was out of town and agreed that upon returning he would put it together (here's proof). The reviews said it would take about 30 minutes to assemble (it took Mr. Lovebird about 2 hours, but don't tell him I told you!), but I was the patient assistant/kid wrangler and in the end it was beautiful - thank you to our Aunt K. for the lovely bedding!:



It's been quite sturdy so far, regularly holding all 4 of us in it very well (Mr. Lovebird and I start the evening in it alone then by 7a.m. we end up pushed out to the ends and the kids stretched out comfortably in the middle O_o). The only issue is a 2" gap at the footboard making me nervous for child limbs potentially getting stuck, but we are very vigilant about it. Nia likes to climb on the footboard part so far so I'm thinking of putting a bench there. I was concerned about covering the upholstered decor of the footboard, but saw this on Instagram and am planning on using it for inspiration (not the pine swag light fixture though!):

{Image Credit: Alice Lane Home}

So. There you have it: my tale of 4 headboards. 

Overall I lost the $40 handling fee from my initial Target headboard and the $60 cost increase of the Wayfair headboard (it's now $298, $24 less than what we paid), but Mr. Lovebird agrees: it's a pretty awesome bed. 

We love the design and the comfort. Oh and we sleep REALLY well on our Amazon mattress!

Have you ever had a crazy switcharoo purchase story like mine? Would you have given up at say, headboard #3?



Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Ho-Ho-Holiday Laundry Tactics With all Mighty Pacs Stainlifters

Disclosure: I received all Mighty Pacs Stainlifters to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own.


There's a dirty secret about having guests for the holidays: laundry! Coming from NYC-metro where we were blessed to have shoddy washers and dryers in most of our apartments and wash and fold when we didn't, I'm still reveling in the face that we have a properly working w/d here in New Hampshire. We hosted nearly 20 people for Thanksgiving, and if this is any indication of what it's like to run a bed and breakfast - WOW! I have a great respect for innkeepers. 

The first few days after Thanksgiving I bumbled around in a stupor, but soon I had to face this reality:
 

Yep, these were a couple of many laundry piles I needed to tackle left over from our festivities. Not only was there bedding, but my family has the lovely habit of leaving clothing behind every single time they visit (sorry dad, I still can't find your shirt!). My friends at team all took mercy on me and asked if I'd like to give all Mighty Pacs Stainlifters a try. We use all anyway, buying the liquid in bulk at BJs so I was happy to have an even easier method for powering through my laundry pile: I just tossed a pac in my laundry then I was on my way.

And yes, the all Mighty Pacs Stainlifters worked just as good as the liquid that I'm used to (we don't use them yet for Grayson's clothes since he has sensitive baby skin!). We were dealing with bodily fluids and greasy cooking stains from Thanksgiving and all got everything out with ease, and smelled wonderful as well. We like how all is dependable and not overly scented plus they were voted 2014 Better Homes and Gardens best new product by consumers. 

To learn more about how all Mightly Pacs Stainlifters can help you this tough holiday stain season, be sure to visit their website and follow on Facebook for the latest product news.

Do you get swamped with laundry during the holidays? What are your tactics for handling it?



Monday, December 15, 2014

Survive Teething With Baby Banana Brush (& a Giveaway!)

Disclosure: I received samples to facilitate this review; all opinions expressed are my own. 

There are certain laws of second child-dom that have come to pass in our household which essentially can be summed up in the following: whatever happened with the first child will be opposite for the second child. For example, Nia was sleep averse, however Gray loves to sleep. Nia was OBSESSED with nursing, however Gray isn't as passionate about it. We barely noticed when Nia teethed, however Gray's teething is epic. 

About that last part: TEETHING.

It is the reason why I mustn't skip coffee in the mornings and why my to-do list is being neglected. Grayson needs LOTS of cuddles and snuggles to get through teething (and the looooong nights!). He has two teeth that popped in already on the bottom, but the two on the top look extremely painful. His gums have been stuck in swollen limbo for over a week. 

If you follow me on social media you've seen Gray with his favorite teethers across my feed:



They're from Baby Banana Brush who I met at Toy Fair earlier this year. Created by Heather Phillips, a fellow mompreneur, after this scary experience with her son, they have been Gray's favorite especially during this brutal rough patch of teething. I was given the original Baby Banana Infant Teething Toothbrush and Octobrush at Toy Fair, which I attended while I was pregnant with Gray, and waited patiently until I was able to use them. They have since become a necessity in our household!

In addition to the Banana and Octobrush, there's also Sharky and the new Cornelius:



Being from Ohio, I'm especially a fan of Cornelius, the cutest mini-ear of corn! When Grayson sees his Baby Banana Brushes he gets very excited, and I love seeing his little, chubby hands reach for them. Here's a quick video of him in action:



Curious about the technical details of Baby Banana Brushes? Here's the breakdown:
  • Made of 100% medical grade silicone (BPA, latex, phthalate, and toxin free!)
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Can be frozen for extra teething relief
  • Baby Banana Brush has amazing accolades and has won awards
  • Very affordable at $8.95, (check the website for retailers which vary by product) 
Now the fun part! I'm excited to be giving away the following Baby Banana Brushes to 4 lucky Harlem Lovebirds readers: Banana, Octobrush, Sharky and Cornelius! The giveaway starts today, Monday, December 15 and runs through Thursday, December 18 with the winner announced on Friday, December 19 (open to U.S. residents only). Enter via the Rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!

Be sure to follow Baby Banana Brush on Facebook and Twitter for the latest product news!



Friday, December 12, 2014

Chex Party Mix is a Family Affair

Disclosure: I received promotional items to facilitate this post; all opinions expressed are my own. 


Mr. Lovebird and I are college sweethearts and there are certain things that despite knowing each other all our adult lives thus far that I'm still surprised to discover about him. One of those things is that prior to meeting me he had never had Chex Party Mix. 

Shocking, I know. 

Growing up in Columbus, Ohio I do not recall a time that I didn't have Chex Party Mix in my life. It's inextricably linked to my childhood, and I have early memories of enjoying it - picking out the Wheat Chex and peanuts to snack on, especially. There is so much nostalgia wrapped up in eating it and while you can definitely pick up the bagged version, which didn't exist when I was a kid, something about mixing everything together and waiting the full hour for it to cook (don't forget to stir every 15 minutes!) lends itself to socializing and anticipation with your family. 

My own Harlem Lovebirds wooden spoon?! I may have got tears in my eyes when I received this.
With my family's recent move to New Hampshire, while I missed a special Chex event back in NYC, the team was kind enough to send a care package up to New  England for me and my family. It was perfect timing as I had about 20 guests arriving for Thanksgiving and since we're not a big "snacky" family, but our guests were, when they started inquiring about which snacks we'd have on hand, making Chex Party Mix was a no brainer. 


My sister Lauren helped me out while the rest of the family hung out and salivated waited patiently for the Chex Party Mix to finish. Lauren took her measuring job VERY seriously and was so focused - a woman after my own heart!


I have to interject that I'm a kitchen tech nerd and loved the fact that our oven has two timers so I could set one for the full 60 minutes required then the other for 15 minute intervals as a reminder to stir. Next step into blissdom? DOUBLE OVENS. A girl can dream!

When the Chex Party Mix was done it had to cool. THE. HARDEST. PART. It came out perfectly (to me) although my mom and sisters agreed that I should've picked even smaller pretzels. They were literally called "tiny twists" so I'm not sure how much smaller they were supposed to be O_o Anywho... I didn't include the bagel chips or mixed nuts as the recipe calls for. Plain peanuts were what we used growing up so I stuck with those.

The Chex Party Mix didn't last long. I call that success! I really should've doubled the recipe cause people kept coming by the pantry asking where it was. This cook had other things to make and with one oven, another batch of just wasn't going to happen. I had intentions of making Muddy Buddies too (anyone else remember that?), but you know how that goes . . .

To find all the Chex recipes visit their website and be sure to follow on Facebook and Twitter

Is Chex Party Mix part of your family's holiday staples? What do you like to mix in yours?





Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Squeaky Wheel #14: Replacing the BEST Can Opener Ever

I went back to take a look at my last Squeaky Wheel post and was surprised to see it's been over a year since I wrote one. This one is a quickie but it's oh so good and I hope it inspires you to do something similar:

I'm not a materialistic person. I'm happier having an awesome, memorable life experience than having things. With this being said, I am particular about investing in simple things that work well. For example, companies like Oxo and Simple Human make my heart sing and while some might think they're pricey I'm of the belief that it's better to invest in a quality item that you don't have to replace rather than get something cheap that might break easily and need replaced often. 

Enter my search for the perfect can opener. 

I've been married for 5 years and as part of our wedding gifts received a Kitchen Aid set of kitchen utensils which included a can opener. I'm familiar with Kitchen Aid from their line of mixers (I LOVE mine and use it regularly) and while they're built to last some of the items in the utensils set were not including the can opener. I was surprised when it just completely snapped apart when trying to open a can. 

We then moved on to a couple others which promptly broke as well, and even got to the point where in the interim of searching for a comfortable can opener used tools from our tool kit to open cans in desperation. 

I just wanted an awesome can opener that didn't make me feel stressed out (or end up with red fingers)! I turned to Amazon and after reading many reviews settled on this Zyliss Lock N' Lift Can Opener.  Growing up I remembered my mom having a Zyliss, and I did what any typical Amazon shopper does and read the reviews. Nearly 1,000 reviews ya'll with an average of 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. I didn't realize people were just as passionate as I was about can openers!

I ordered it and it was everything it promised to be: it handled our industrial-sized BJs cans with ease and was comfortable to grip.

Then. 

I don't know how it happened, but the spring locking mechanism popped off a few weeks ago and with the holiday season approaching (meaning LOTS of cans to open) I panicked and went back to Amazon to see exactly how long ago I ordered it and what could be done. 

I was wary when I pulled up my account and saw this:


2011?! I doubted it was covered under some type of warranty (if that even existed), but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask and sent the following message to Zyliss:


Click to enlarge

The next day. The. next. day. WHA?! I got this reply:



Then this arrived in all its glory (I didn't even have to send in the old one or the receipt as I offered!):



I was so excited, Mr. Lovebird thought I had won Publisher's Clearing House. 

Simple things I tell ya. That's all it takes!

I'm now back to happily opening my cans. 

Thank you Zyliss for your awesome customer service and making this cook super happy!

Do you share my passion for a particular kitchen gadget?



P.S. Click here for a recent cringe-worthy example of how *not* to be a squeaky wheel. Can you believe this guy?