CSN Stores Product Reviews and Giveaway

The people at CSN stores were kind enough to send me two of their products for review on this blog, and in addition, they will give away one of the products I reviewed to one lucky reader of this blog.

Why CSN stores?

As a working mother, I am constantly looking for ways to have a less stressful work-life balance because the lack of balance makes my family’s life chaotic and keeps my blood pressure high up there. So, give me your time, if you will, and forget about those “rollback” retailers, and let me introduce you to CSN stores.

CSN stores  is an online retailer based in the Boston, Massachusetts. It started selling online in 2002 and now has over 200 online stores, with each store focusing on a niche area of products (i.e. dining rooms from their dining website), with a wide range of products with different styles for your individual personality and prices that meet every budget. In fact, their tag line is “Shop Easy,” and this working mom needs easy in her life because that “easy button” isn’t really doing much for me. When I say that they sell EVERYTHING, I really mean EVERYTHING. (Yes, the all caps are for dramatic effect and the intention was to shout.) Whether are searching for cookware, housewares, backpacks, or patio, bedroom, or dining room furniture, CSN stores will make your life a whole lot easier. 

As a working mother, one of the things I don’t have enough of is time. Often times, I wish I could invent more hours in the day. My time with my family is precious and also, pressured. I want to focus more on my family and household tasks in the evening such as shopping and preparing meals are not necessarily activities I really want to do, but they have to be done and CSN stores can be visited any time and I don’t worry about closing time either. (Can you visualize me making it to “fill store name in” as they are locking the doors? It shouldn’t be too hard considering the human fuel tank is always running on “E.”) Of course, other stores have websites but they do not offer as many products and options as CSN stores have. One of the products I am reviewing is one that minimizes my time in the kitchen in the evening; that is time with I would rather spend with my family. The more time saving opportunities I have, the less grouchy I am the following morning and that makes my family happy, and if they are happy, I am happy. See, it is really a win-win situation. (It is like when I get to watch Doctor Who without any interruptions.)

Presto 8-Qt Aluminum Pressure Cooker

The first item up for review is the Presto 8-Qt Aluminum Pressure Cooker. I can say many great things about this product but I am simply happy with the fact that it cut my cooking time in half. I have Mediterranean roots and my family loves grape leaves, but grape leaves are best cooked in a pressure cooker but I will get back to the grape leaves that I made this past weekend later in the post. In addition to the time saved, pressure cookers offer several advantages including the use of much less water so dishes are ready sooner. Less energy is used with boiling, steaming and cooking and since I have an electric stove, I dread a high electric bill. Less water also means food comes to a cooking temperature faster. When food is cooked at a temperature that is above the normal boiling point, it kills bacteria and viruses. That also makes it a great sterilizer for baby bottles if you have a wee little one or those binkies that we still cannot seem to get rid of at my house.

Food prepared in a pressure cooker tastes much better because heat is evenly, deeply, and quickly distributed. You do not need to immerse your food in water because all you need is enough to keep the cooker filled with steam. This means that vitamins and minerals do not dissolve and your meals are much healthier than other cooking methods. I am floating on cloud nine here folks, because healthy, without much effort, is this working mother’s dream. (Yea, go me.)

The Presto Pressure Cooker has many great features. First, it was easy to install which is something I always like because, again, this working mom loves things that are quick and easy. Moreover, the setup, when you are ready to cook, is so simple and yet again, I like simple.

Other product features include:

• Cooks three to ten times faster than ordinary cooking methods

• Pressure cooking preserves flavors and nutrients, and even tenderizes lean cuts of meat

• Pressure regulator maintains the proper cooking pressure automatically

• Ideal for use on regular and smooth-top ranges

• Strong, heavy-gauge aluminum for quick, even heating, easy cleaning, and long life

• Cover lock indicator shows at a glance if there is pressure inside the cooker

• Includes cooking rack and complete 64-page instruction/recipe book

• Extended 12-year limited warranty

You can currently purchase the Presto 8-Qt Aluminum Pressure Cooker at CSN Stores for 25% off the regular price.

By the way, those grape leaves were yummy and there were no leftovers. I would like to say that I am a great cook but after making grape leaves for years now, the Presto 8-Qt Aluminum Pressure Cooker deserves 50% of the credit (My husband says 95% so he will visiting the imaginary doghouse tonight).

The Ginsu Bakelite 5 Piece Prep Cutlery Set

Okay, folks, this is our giveaway item from the generous folks at CSN stores. You know those guys that sell you everything from dining room furniture to patio furniture to anything your heart desires. The Ginsu Bakelite 5 Piece Prep Cutlery Set is currently 45% of its regular price so even a cheapskate, like me, knows this is a great deal.

The Ginsu Bakelite Cutlery set includes a chef’s knife, santoku knife, utility knife, paring knife and a natural hardwood storage block. If you are not a top notch chef in your kitchen, you are probably asking what a santoku knife is, and don’t tell me you will know it when you see it because that makes about as much sense as the Supreme Court attempting to define obscenity. The word “santoku” means “three virtues” in Japanese and the santoku knife has three great qualities: chopping, dicing and mincing,” just like a Jackie Chan movie (yes, I know he is Chinese, but stay with me). Santoku knives are designed to offer a comfortable, well-balanced grip, while allowing full use of the blade.

This Ginsu set offers the following features:

• Unique double edge blade for precision cutting

• Serrated knives never need sharpening for strength and durability

• Commercial quality

• Convenient hardwood storage block keeps your knives organized, safe and ready to use

• A lifetime warranty. (I love warranties!)

Now that I have worn you down with all the specifics of both these items and told you that CSN stores is a working mother’s dream come true, let’s talk about the giveaway.

The Giveaway – Drum Roll please . . .

CSN stores is giving away a Ginsu Bakelite 5 Piece Prep Cutlery Set to one lucky reader of this blog. If you want to be entered to win, leave me a comment letting me know whether you already knew what a santoku knife was or not.

For two additional entries,

• Become a follower of this blog and then, leave a second comment saying you are following. If you are already a follower, remind me since I am forgetful.

• You can tweet this giveaway to OhBoy_Boys and then leave a third comment saying that tweeted.

This Giveaway will end Friday, July 23, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST so get your entry in by then.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN CONTACT YOU. The Winner will be chosen by Random.org. I will post the Winner here and email the winner directly. You will then have 48 hours to claim your Prize. U.S. and Canadian addresses only (No P.O. Boxes please).

I was not paid for this review. CSN Stores sent me the two products for review. The opinions expressed belong entirely to me. Thank you CSN Stores for allowing me the opportunity to review your products.