Once upon a time, during the early 20th century, engineers started churning out inventions, such as home appliances, to make mostly women’s lives easier. I would imagine women everywhere wanted to get their hands on anything that would make their lives just a little easier.  Men, however, were like DANG!  These fancy new gadgets are EXPENSIVE!  The dilemma was that they, too, really wanted these appliances for their wives so they could make better food, clean the house quicker and overall, be more efficient. 

So, one day, a newly married man got the brilliant idea to buy this new-fangled piece of steel as a gift to his wife for their anniversary.  Rumor has it that right after he excitedly gave his wife this very expensive, useful gift, he suddenly died. May he rest in peace. 

It took years of these sudden deaths, but slowly men everywhere began to put the pieces of the puzzle together and realized there was some connection to these appliances, special occasions and sudden death.  It became taboo to even consider purchasing appliances for women anytime other than out of absolute necessity, and then and only then, if it was just a normal day.

And so, it has become a universal truth that most people do not want an appliance for their birthday or any holiday for that matter. Nobody wants to wake up on Christmas morning to a shiny, new vacuum. We can all imagine after the dust settles and everyone else is playing their new games, and trying on their fancy new jeans,  that our vacuum is just staring at us waiting for a spin around the family room. 

Nope. 

Spouses everywhere know it’s a mortal sin to even consider purchasing an appliance anytime other than a Memorial Day sale and then, and only then, if said spouse has specifically requested that appliance. 

Over the years, appliance companies have tried to win us over with their fancy stainless steel, modern wet/dry vacuums and drawers under the washer and dryer to make it more convenient and exciting.

No, thank you. Keep it until Labor Day. I’ll just wash my clothes in the sink if I have to, but don’t even think about giving me one of these for my anniversary just because mine broke the week before.  It’s not going to fly.

A few years ago Kitchen Aid tried to woo us with their copper bowl right before the holidays, and while it turned some heads, nobody wanted a mint green mixer. Nice try.

Then Williams-Sonoma and KitchenAid were like watch this…

And they introduced their Evergreen Design series mixer with a walnut bowl and suddenly we have all lost our minds. The world has turned upside down. 

This is the description of the mixer on their website:

“Introducing Evergreen, a KitchenAid Design Series Stand Mixer. Evergreen brings the essence of the outdoors within, so you can come alive in the kitchen every single time you use it. Ground yourself in natural elements of Evergreen: deep, forest green and a true, walnut wood bowl.”

Yes, I want the outside in and I want to be grounded in nature and come ALIVE in the kitchen. Who doesn’t?

Would I take this offering for my birthday, Christmas or anniversary? 

YES! 

In fact, what do I have to do to get this extraordinary piece of art? What is happening? All the rules are out the window and people everywhere are begging for this mixer. Okay, don’t get excited, this is hyperbole. I realize this mixer isn’t the end all, be all for everyone. We are just having fun here.

The first day I saw this mixer on William-Sonoma’s Instagram page, I FELL IN LOVE.  I shared it with everyone because I wanted others to see this beautiful new gadget and agree with me that they also wanted one. 

If I’m honest, it felt like it belonged in my kitchen. I have mountains and trees all around my house and purchasing this mixer just felt right. It felt like a piece of art that was missing in my home.

Alas, Andy and I have an unspoken rule about not making big purchases without talking to the other first.  Unless, it’s a new gaming system…but I will save that discretion on his part for another blog. Purchasing this mixer felt like something I couldn’t justify going and buying on an average Monday. 

So, I showed him the mixer and he laughed. Not the reaction I was going for. The next day, I took a different approach and I asked him if  he would like to make a large donation for something I wanted to buy that might seem frivolous to him, but I really wanted to save for. He gave me a dollar that was in his wallet. 

Next, I began peppering his IG feed with this mixer. I mean every post I saw about the mixer I sent to him. 

My absolute favorites were from Jen Hatmaker who also reveled in the beauty of this appliance. Jen was resolute that she would not buy this appliance for herself. And she did not.

But then, weeks later she posted that her BOYFRIEND sent this mixer to her out of the blue! 

Whaaaaaat?

Yes, you’d best believe I sent this post to Andy and added my commentary of, “so, do I need to get a boyfriend in order to receive this mixer?”  This got a big chuckle out of him. I knew I was getting under his skin at this point and if I kept up my harassment, I beleived I might be able to pull this off as a very big Christmas gift! 

Maybe.

Then, on a normal Wednesday evening, I was doing some work in the office when he yelled for me to come to the kitchen because he “thought we had a leak.” Of course, I came running, and there sitting on my counter was the most beautiful appliance I had ever seen. He bought me the mixer just because I loved it so much…and maybe a little because he didn’t want me to get a boyfriend. 

You guys, to be honest, I’m a little embarassed. I mean, I was prepared for a couple more months of harassment and he beat me at my own game. I surely don’t deserve this extravagant gift for no reason at all and I’m a little taken aback because this is not normal. He is not someone who shows up with flowers or gifts for no reason. It’s so unexpected and I’m not going to lie, I’m completely in love with this mixer and now I need to rearrange my entire kitchen around this exquisite piece of art.

Someone asked me if I would have actually been happy getting this beautiful piece of wood and steel for Christmas.  The answer is a resounding yes, but the fact that I did receive it on an average Wednesday makes it all the more special.  Also, it’s a slippery slope.  I don’t want him getting any crazy ideas and bringing me home a matching blender fo our anniversary.  It’s best to keep them guessing.