Can you think of a few things that you said you wanted, but later found annoying or boring? How often do you use Christmas gifts of years past? One thing I had asked for but never use is a CD of yoga music. I never remember to put it on or think it’s even necessary. I can’t remember whether or not my waffle maker was a Christmas gift, but I rarely use it. And, yes, I thought of asking for an ice cream maker, but I was honest with myself about how often I’d use it.

However, maybe you’re not the the best person to ask about how often you’d use a potential gift. According to a new study, other people are better predictors of how often we’d use a gift. Plus, the study showed that we tend to overestimate how often we will use a gift. The study revealed that 59% of gifts were used less often than the recipient had expected. The gift recipients in the study predicted they’d use gifts twice more often than they actually did.

“… the reality of owning an object doesn’t quite measure up to our expectations. The cappuccino machine is a hassle to clean, the fancy navigation system is not necessary for most driving, and no one has time to play the new piano,” said study author Jeffrey Vietri, instructor of psychology at Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania.

Vietri hopes that the study findings (particularly the part about consulting others) will help inform consumers so that they may lead more clutter-free and eco-friendly lives without overspending.

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Will You Really Use That Ice Cream Maker?

I can see why some of the items are on the list. I have had three rice cookers, all three given to me by my dad, and I have rarely used them. I have a bread machine that I use constantly for pizza dough. I’ve only made bread in it a few times and one time I made a huge batch of dough for cinnamon rolls (I was a hit with the neighborhood kids), but for pizza dough, it’s a real time saver.

Also on that list – books. Books?  I love books. I have a large collection of cookbooks and while I do look things up on the internet, I love to sit down with my cookbooks and find new dishes. I’m never going to be a kindle person, because I love holding the book in my hands, looking at the glossy photos, making notes on the pages, looking at the books lined up neatly on the shelf. The idea that books might grow obsolete just does not make sense to me. It’s heresy. Honestly, it makes my stomach hurt a little.

Ice cream makers are lumped with bread machines, they don’t even get their own place on the list, the author finds them that worthless. I don’t have an ice cream maker now, but I did at one time and we would use it a couple of times a month. It wasn’t the most cost effective appliance, but the kids loved it and some things you do just because they are fun. The same goes for the Polaroid camera. Some things in life are not about ease, they are about the process.

When I was a kid, my grandma had an old school ice cream maker that required rock salt and an incredible amount of noise. I can remember the machine going at family reunions and the ice cream took forever in coming, but the taste of that fresh vanilla or strawberry desert was better than anything else I had ever tasted.

When I think about Grandma’s machine, the whole family reunion experience is there – in and out the back door with the cousins, the warm sun, smelling something on Grandpa’s barbeque, swimming in the pool, lots of hugs and kisses. Not everything is about fast, easy, and convenient. Slow down. Pull that useless ice cream maker off the shelf and make something cold and yummy with the kids.

Image credit: Directron.com

Post from: Blisstree

Don’t Throw Out the Ice Cream Maker

This automatic ice cream maker needs no ice or salt to make your favorite frozen delights. Get creative and use the 29 recipes included to make luscious low-fat fresh fruit sorbets, sherbet, frozen yogurt, slushes, and refreshing frozen cocktail drinks using your own all-natural ingredients including fresh fruits. The 1-qt., aluminum canister on this ice cream machine freezes prepared ingredients in 30 minutes or less.

The Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker’s sturdy base has room to hold large sundae bowls…just push the lever to dispense your home-made ice cream or other frozen treat right into your cone, bowl or glass. This ice cream machine also features anti-slip rubber feet, and can be disassembled for easy cleaning. UL listed.

Image: Improvements

Post from: Blisstree

Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker