When it's worth paying more

WH offered to pick up a few missed grocery items recently, and checked out the local grocery store while he was at it. They didn't have the usual brand of balsamic vinegar (not that I would have known what that was...I guess I've always purchased an off-brand) so he purchased this:
When I looked at the receipt (I was curious to know how this store compared to others in price) I was shocked to find that this was 2-3x what I had paid in the past, although it was nothing compared to the fancy schmancy high-end gourmet vinegars. I needed it anyway and was grateful to have someone else run my errands, so I didn't worry about it. Then I made my usual balsamic vinaigrette dressing and was floored by the difference in taste! It was amazing...my salad was transformed.

I was visiting some friends in Chattanooga last weekend and noticed she had the same brand of vinegar on her counter so I commented on how much I was enjoying it. That's when she told me that when their family lived in Modena, Italy this is what they used, and they've been using it ever since. Now you can easily get it at your run-of-the-mill grocery store here. True story.

So this makes me wonder about other products. Finish the statement:
It's totally worth spending extra for____________________.

The one where she talks about her favorite room

Well, I think we have survived the Last Cold of Spring, and as with labor (and many other things), just when you think you can't take it any more things get better. After a pretty tough night of getting up about every 20 minutes between the three kids, I really thought I was going to die. (Just call me Anne with an "e.") I got about 2 hours of sleep Saturday night, and that was WITH my husband taking a few turns comforting hacking children who can't breath out of their nose so they can't suck their appendages. But enough of that. The kids are on the mend, I'm feeling much better, and we are just trying to keep WH and the baby from getting anything more than a scratchy throat.

Still no dining room curtains. So you may just never see that room unless you visit. But that's not my favorite room anyway, so on to the kitchen.

My bedroom is A favorite, especially since I have a fabulous bed. Our new bedroom is bigger and has almost no clutter which makes it even more of a retreat. However, my all time favorite room would have to be the kitchen. Which makes my mother wonder if we are actually related.

My current kitchen doesn't have enough room for my stainless steel island, the one that makes me feel like the Pioneer Woman when I cook. But I'm getting over that. If you like to cook, there are endless possibilities of creativity in this little room, and since almost everyone loves to eat, it's a place for providing a daily source of happiness to my family. I'll have to wax eloquent on my love of the kitchen another time.

Here are the only things worth noting about my kitchen:
These are my window mistreatments. My old curtains tacked up to my new kitchen window. Nothing spectacular but it took me 2 minutes and they make me happy.

The fridge of my dreams. I've never really had a dream about a fridge with a freezer on the bottom, but if I had to choose any model it would have been this one, and we don't even own the house! (My dream fridge of this make and model would, however, have a working icemaker.)

And my new little island where all my important work takes place. Tomorrow is grocery day, and I haven't had a two-week trip since we moved so I need to go finish my list. Do you see that amazing looking Double-Caramel Turtle Cake on the cover of that magazine? It is delicious in real life.