The Pressure Cooker: Presto vs Fagor

Presto 6 Quart Pressure Cooker

Fagor 6 Quart Pressure Cooker

As one reviewer put it, "pressure cookers are like crock pots on steroids!"  Pressure cookers cook meals up to 70% faster than conventional methods.  That seriously makes it not only a must-have for women who work all day and work-at-home moms, but for students as well.  So, let’s take a look at two popular brands.

The Presto 6-Quart Pressure Cooker features:

* Heavy-duty 6-quart stainless steel pressure cooker
* Comfortably ergonomic, stay-cool black plastic handles
* Strong-lock lid with steam vent, pressure indicator and overpressure plug
* Comes with rack for steaming food or for canning
* 17 by 8-1/2 inches; 12-year warranty

The price is easy on the wallet or purse at $44.50, and comes with free shipping through amazon.   If you need to prepare a meal in a hurry, this stainless steel pressure cooker is heaven-sent. In fact, it's considered faster than a microwave!  The Presto comes with a cooking rack and recipe book that has over 65 recipes.

Customers who have purchased the Presto Pressure Cooker have commented that it is sturdy, safe, and can either be washed by hand or put into the dish washer.  Overall, this is one great product to have on hand.

The Fagor 6-Quart Pressure Cooker has the following features:

* 6-quart pressure cooker preserves vitamins and minerals during cooking
* Reduces cooking time by up to 70 percent
* 18/10 stainless steel with impact-bonded aluminum base for even heating
* Advanced safety features prevent excessive pressure build-up
* Includes instruction manual and recipe book

The price is $66.05, and like the Presto, you get free shipping through amazon.  Something you might be interested to know about the Fagor company.  Fagor is a participant in the Energy Star program and prides itself on being energy efficient.  This pressure cooker, as are all Fagor’s products, is designed to reduce energy and water consumption.  In particular, the food processor is made of stainless steel and all it requires is placing all of the ingredients into the cooker, lock the lid, and cook.  The aluminum base allows for heat to be distributed evenly and is fuel efficient.  In addition, the Fagor can be used on gas stoves, electric, ceramic top and induction surfaces.

Customers have touted this pressure cooker as the finest product available today, but have honed in on one unique feature.  While other brands of pressure cookers have that top that jiggles incessantly when the cooking process is done, the Fagor has a yellow indicator that pops out.

For the student,  working woman or work-at-home mom, the general consensus is that the Fagor is perhaps the best product offered but, more than that, the company is keeping within the guidelines of energy conservation and efficiency which is one of the top 3 things women look for these days in kitchen appliances..

To set goals: Reaching for your goals when you've got nothing.

No product review today, instead let's have a "motivational" Monday!  I absolutely love underdogs!  Especially when those underdogs are little kids.  This morning, I found this remarkably touching story on google news about  a group of students on a little island in Alaska, population 40, who are determined to go to Disneyland, Santa Barbara Zoo, and the science and history museums in California.  

 

For the past 3 years they've been trying to raise $10,000 to go.  In the process, these little guys are learning steps in goal setting, what it takes to reach those goals and that giving up is not an option.  Don't be a quitter.  Be a winner and hang in there.  They're learning that sometimes you have to adjust your goals, but you still keeping working at it.  

For instance, they originally wanted to go to Cape Canaveral and Disney World, but then realised time was running out on meeting their goal, so now they’re shooting for Disneyland.  It’s an incredibly touching and inspiring story.  Take some time out and read about these awesome little kids!  Click here to read.

Make it a great day!
Yochana

5 Common Sense Steps to Weedeater Safety

Today, we're going to look at weed eater safety. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, nearly 5,000 weed eater injuries happened in 1989.  About 1/3 of those were because people didn't bother to wear safety glasses/goggles. 

The best thing you can do is simply read the owners manual.  All the tips you could ask for are in there.  But for those of you who don't like owners manuals, here is a very brief summary of common sense safety tips.

1.  Never wear sandals, flip flops or go barefoot, as flying debris and the spinning trimmer line are definite safety hazards.  I know you've probably seen others do it, but they're nutts, and you don't want to be like them.  

2.  Make sure you wear long pants, sturdy shoes, gloves, ear plugs or other hearing protection and safety glasses.  Safety glasses or goggles will protect your eyes from flying debris resulting in eye injury or loss of vision from objects flung at your face.  

3.  Keep the cover guard on.  The guard prevents any line from breaking free and shooting straight up in your face and other debris from hitting you.  

4.  This is a super big one, and one that really annoys the crap out of me when I see the neighbours doing this.  PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR SURROUNDINGS!  Know where your kids and pets are at all times.  Don't allow children or pets to hang around where you're weed eating.  They can easily end up with serious eye injuries from the flying debris.

5.  Know where your phone lines are or any other line that comes into the house.  Both me and my youngest nephew have managed to sever my phone line because we didn't notice the line.  : )

Remember, weed eating is dangerous, so make sure you use your head, and especially know where your kids and pets are.

That's it!  This is the last in my series on weed eaters.  I hope you've found it helpful, and that it will help you save both time and money on choosing your next or first weed eater.

Make it a great day!

Yochana

Find the right weed eater: Top 3 Gas Weed Eater Review

Welcome to the 4th article in the series to help you find the right weed eater that will make your yard look fantastic!  Today, I want to show you 3 of the top gas powered weed eaters .  I was going to post it here, but since I already have a page I did earlier reviewing the Poulan and Hitachi weedeaters, I decided that rather than repeat myself I'd give you the link to check them out.  The review covers Poulan, Hitachi and Troy Bilt.  I've also updated the spreadsheet for the gas powered weed eaters.  You'll find a review of all 3, plus a video, along with links to the spreadsheets.

Click here to check out today's article that will help you make the right choice if you're considering buying a gas powered weed eater.

Check back Sunday for my guide on weed eater safety!  Meanwhile, have a great weekend!

--Yochana

Top 3 Electric Weed Eaters on Amazon Comparison

Welcome back!  Today we're going to take a look at 3 of amazon's best selling electric weed eaters.  There's a lot of information to cover, so let's get started.

First in line is the Black & Decker LST1018 12- Inch 18-Volt Lithium Ion Cordless String Trimmer/Edger with Quick Charger.  

This sharp looking rechargeable gets 4.2 stars out of 5. 

Price: $104.25
Savings:  ($15.74 savings)

Black & Decker is a long trusted name in tools, so there's a lot of security in buying anything B & D.  Something I like about this is the nice handle up front.  It's nicely padded and gives you good control while trimming.

Key Product Features:

1.  weighs 6 pounds
2.  18 volts, 12 inch cutting path
3.  also acts as an edger
4.  Adjustable shaft and auxiliary handle
5.  Comes with trimmer, 1 battery, and charger
6.  2 - year warranty
7.  environmentally friendly
8.  2 cutting modes
9.  Run time 24 minutes
10.  Recharges in 1 hour.

Misc. Facts:

Unlike gas powered weed eaters, the noise is greatly reduced to protect your hearing and environment.   The fact that it's both a trimmer and an edger makes it a best value for your money.  2 cutting speeds gives you more control.  The auto feed keeps the line the perfect length
as you trim.  The shaft telescopes to your height.  Something that I can tell you from experience is a must for us short folk (I'm 5'3".)  The handle adjusts as well.  

After reviewing the various customer comments, this is what I came up with.  Everyone loves the fact that there's no cord to drag around.  They also love the fact that you don't have to tap the head on the ground to lengthen the string, since it automatically lengths the string as you go.  They like the fast recharge time.  One guy suggests trimming till the battery gets low, and while it's charging hop on the mower and mow your lawn.  When you're finished, the weed eater will be recharged and ready to go again.

Another big plus was the benefit of all electric weed eaters - no maintaining an engine like you have to do with gas powered.


Next in line we have the: Greenworks 21212 13-Inch 4 Amp Electric String Trimmer/Edger With Telescoping Handle

The Greenworks gets 4.7 out of 5 stars rating.

Price: $44.08
Savings: $5.91

Key Product Features:


1.  Auto line advancement
2.  handle rotates 180 degrees for edging
3.  Integrated cord lock prevents cord from disconnecting (This is a wonderful addition!)
4.  Telescoping shaft adjusts to accommodate your height.
5.  Shipping weight is 8 LBS, so I'm guessing the actual product weighs between 5.5 and  6 LB.
6.  Obviously from the name, it's environmentally safe.
7.  The 4 year warranty is TWICE the industry standard.
8.  No tune-ups or maintenance.
9.  Easy start.

As for customer reviews, obviously with a 4.7 rating, people love it.  The only real downside is if you're around 6'4" - no matter how long you lengthen the handle - it's still too short. Otherwise, it takes about 10 minutes to put it together. 


Lastly, we have the Black & Decker GH600 Grass Hog 14-Inch 5 amp Electric String Trimmer and Edger.

Price: $55.99

Savings:  $43.62

3.4 out of 5 stars

Key Product Features:

1.  5 amp motor 9.500 rpm
2.  Auto line feed
3.  Head rotates 180 for edging
4.  Weighs 5.2 pounds
5.  Soft, adjustable grips for easy handling
6.  2 year warranty
7.  Handle fully adjustable to users size.
8.  Easy start
9.  Cord lock prevents disconnections

As for customer reviews - you either love it or hate it.  Most people love it.  Everyone loves that it's lightweight and easy to start.  There are complaints about the string (line) and feeder problems, but the problem might be like one guy put it - "read the MANUAL!"And it's true.  Most of the time the problem you have with tools like weed eaters and stuff is because people don't bother to read the manual do what it actually says.

So there you are.  I've done up a spreadsheet so you can get a better look at the differences between the three models.  Click here to see it.

Tomorrow we'll look at the top 3 gas operated models.  

Meanwhile, have a great evening!

--Yochana

Weed Eater Buying Guide for Women

Yesterday, I gave you an introduction to weed eaters.  Today, we going to look at what you need to know about buying a weed eater.  There's several reasons behind this:

1.  # 1 as a mother you are super busy with a ton of physical and financial responsibilities.  You don't need to be standing in a store staring at the long row of choices, slowly slipping into a coma wondering what to buy.  This guide is going to help you buy with confidence, knowing that you've not only saved time, but money as well!

2.  If you buy at a store and ask for help, you never know for certain if he really knows what he's talking about, or if he's the Tim "the Tool Man" Taylor type who believes if you have a lawn that's only 3 feet by 3 feet you need the most powerful and expensive weed eater there is.  (Said from experience.) 

3.  You'll know exactly what to get and not waste money on something that's more than you really need.  So, as I said before, this guide will help you save time and money.

Now, on with the show.  Here are the 3 key factors you need to keep in mind when choosing a weed eater:

1. Consider the size of your lawn

This is a major, major factor  to keep in mind when buying a weed eater. The size of your lawn  determines what kind of weed eater you're going to buy.  You don't need a big expensive weed eater if you have a small lawn with very little trimming to do.  There are lots of small models that fit the need.  Personally, I think the electric models are perfect for small lawns,  but that's just me.


2. Gas powered or electric?

It's important to be familiar with the different types of weed eaters. There are two kinds weed eaters: electric and gas operated.  There are two kinds of electric weed eaters.  One uses an extension cord and the other is rechargeable. 

There are a number of advantages to using an electric weed eater:

1.  Electric-powered weed eaters are earth-friendly (they produce no emissions). 
2.  They are easy to start - plug in and go, or simply hit the switch, if rechargeable.
3.  They are perfect for small lawns that require very little trimming.
4.  They are lighter weight than the gas powered.
5.   Personally, I love the tap-n-go.  Tap-n-go extends the cutting line while you're trimming and adds new line as you go along.  It's also easy to replace the line when you run out.  You simply remove the cap and slap on a new one.  Super, super easy!  Sometimes the cap can be a little stubborn to come off, but once you do it the first time, it will be a cinch after that.

There's a catch to buying an electric weed eater, though.  If you buy one that's too small for your lawn, you will eventually burn up the motor.  Don't be like me and do that.  : )

On to gas powered weed eaters.  Gas powered weed eaters are more common.  If emissions produced by a gas powered weed eater doesn't bother you, then this is the route to go.  The advantage is you don't need to buy extension cords or if it's rechargeable - you don't have to watch your time.

There's some disadvantages to the gas powered.

1.  I think they're a pain in the neck to start.
2.  They start using a pull string, which is why number 1 exists.
3.  You have to mix the fuel and oil and make sure you have the proper mixture or it won't run right.
4.  They require more maintenance if you want to keep them running well and last.
5.  I find them to be more expensive.
6.  I think they're heavier.

3. Money matters

Obviously, your budget will be a deciding factor when buying a weed eater, or anything for that matter. So keep in mind how much you will be willing to spend.  This prevents you from overspending because of impulse buying. 

The best way to keep from overspending is to buy online.  In fact, I think it's the best way of choosing a weed eater, because it saves you a heck of a lot of time and you're more apt to get the right weed eater for your lawn.  You can compare intelligently the various choices of weed eaters, where you really can't at the store.  Stores  like amazon.com provide you more information, and the biggest plus - is you get to read what other buyers think! 

Of course, there's also what you already know -  you save money shopping online, because you don't have to leave home, you can shop any time day or night, there's no pressure and you really will find the best prices and value for your money.

That's it for today!  Tomorrow, we'll take a good look at the best selling practical electric weed eaters.  We'll compare them, see what others have to say, and I'll provide a spreadsheet you can print out to help you get a really good look at the differences.

Until tomorrow, have a really great day!

Yochana

Introduction To Weed Whackers

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note:  I normally write comparisons of kitchen items or AVON products, but for now, I'm switching gears and hitting up on some necessities for Spring! Drop me a line and let me know what you think and if there's anything you'd like to hear about.  Hope you enjoy reading!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone who grew up with a lawn would certainly remember being told to trim the grass around the trees, shrubs and flower beds during weekends. You probably used clippers, which are great for creating callouses on your hands.  A thing, few men find attractive on women.  Either way, it was a boring and tiring task, but somebody had to do it.

But just imagine trimming the grass with scissors. The task would be even more difficult. So whether you like it or not, meaning the deafening noise weed eaters or weed whackers make, they are made for a reason, and it's a good reason at that.

More than just a chore machine for teenagers, weed whackers help trim grass around those hard to reach places with a lawnmower quickly, easily, and if you know what you're doing - evenly. This is because of the revolving line under its mini-hood.

This line may be operated using a gas powered weed whacker or by using a electric powered whacker that either runs on a rechargeable battery or with an extension cord.

Weed whackers also come in different shapes and sizes. Usually, smaller and simpler ones are meant for small lawns of households. The larger and more powerful ones are used in larger yards like on farms and commercial areas.

Sure enough, weed eaters do a great job at making life easier when it comes to trimming grass. But they aren't used only for that purpose.  There's always that crazy guy out there who thinks they might make good trolling motors for their fishing boats.  Umm...don't try that.

So, if you're tired of using clippers to trim around the trees, shrubbery, etc. in your yard, you definitely need to invest in a good weed whacker.

Tomorrow, I'll be posting a special weed eater buying guide to help you be able to choose the right weed eater for you.  It's one you won't want to miss!  In the meantime, if you'd like to take a look at a couple gas powered weed eaters, check out my Gas Weed Eater Reviews.

Until then, make it a great day!
Yo
 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Little known fact about the author: Yo Coleman

Yo grew up on a 300 acre farm and really doesn't like thinking about weed eating (which was done with callous-making clippers) or mowing the lawn, since her parent's lawn was half the size of a football field, and in those days - she did it with a push mower.  Now she's back on the farm and is very grateful for a riding mower and weed eater, that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't.