Going through the Eat Well, Spend Less basics of back-to-school ideas for staying sane as we head into the school year, and I’m giving away a Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor with the Juice Extractor and Smoothie Attachment to make it that much easier!

Stuff. Stuff gets in the way of the things I want to accomplish. It sits there towering, a giant pile of misshapen boxes precariously perched on top of each other and forcing me to deal with it by gingerly removing and dealing with one box at a time. Removing them is the only way to get to the other side where my goals like waiting.
I was walking through the farmers market yesterday between rows and rows of fresh produce in abundance thinking about how this is my favorite time of year. There is so much potential just waiting to be used. You just have to make the time to buy cases and cases of tomatoes and berries and green beans and then process them and put them up and THAT is about the time I started to feel my throat close and block off the oxygen from the anxiety of not having enough time.
It seems that there is never enough time for whatever it is we hope to accomplish. So, today, I share with you the secret to having enough time: You must make it.
Some things are worth setting aside the time for. You just need to prioritize what those things are. Last week it was making the drive to my daughter’s first ever swim meet on the high school team, sporting her shiny black and silver suit. I was up to my eyeballs in work. My house was trashed. There were so many things on my to-do list that day I had no hope of finishing them all, even without adding a rush-hour drive and sitting at the pool.
I arrived with the three younger kids in tow. They wanted to climb right over the wall of the balcony and jump in the pool. When it was Kiera’s turn to swim my kids screamed her name. They called down to her after she reappeared at the edge of the pool, and she waved and smiled. And it was worth every minute.
Taking advantage of the farmers market produce at this time of year is similar. You make the time or you don’t, and when I don’t, I regret it. I regret it for months afterwards. Last year I failed to make pesto. I was in the midst of writing my book, my son was in the ICU, I was chairing my kids’ elementary school book fair. It just didn’t happen because I didn’t make the time for it. Months in the winter when I really needed pesto it was unavailable. Our freezer stock was empty, and while I filled in with other things, I even purchased some at the store, it just wasn’t the same.
This year I am determined to kill the time demons where they stand. Pesto is happening. Quarts of crushed tomatoes have been put up. Green beans are next. (I’m coming for you.)
Which brings me to my next bit of business. For the pesto-making and the frozen-smoothie-creating, I bring you a giveaway for a fun kitchen tool that helps make things like this take far less time. You see, 14 cups will do that to you. No, not coffee. Fourteen cups of food processing goodness.+

A Giveaway:
I’m giving away a Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor (the one in the photos above, actually) with the Juice Extractor and Smoothie Attachment (Combined ARV $479.90). It’s a huge food processor that will hold your largest jobs. My favorite part so far is the giant bowl. I used to always get my last food processor to leak. Not so with this one. The variety of blades and their storage case make keeping it ready to go easy, and the juice and smoothie attachment means it serves more than one function.
TO ENTER:
Leave me a comment! Any little comment. Tell me a story. Don’t. You decide.
For Bonus Entries:
Tweet or share the following on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did:
Enter to win a Magimix 14-Cup Food Processor via @FoodforMyFamily http://wp.me/puu57-37l #giveaway
THE RULES:
This giveaway is provided by Magimix and will run until Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm CDT and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years of age and older. A winner will be chosen at random using Random.org from all eligible entries. Chosen winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!

I have been rather quiet. Have you noticed? Yes, the mountain trapped me. Plus, I have guilt and believe I should cross all the stuff for others off my to-do list before I come and do something here for me. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the crazy amount of stuff fall seems to bring, I offer you these tips by the lovely Eat Well, Spend Less ladies to get your life back in alignment.
- Aimee will have you back on track and meal planning in no time with her no-fuss approach to weeknight meals.
- If you’re homeschooling, Amy has you covered for how to manage the curriculum and the carrots.
- Breakfast can be a hectic part of any day as you try to get ready for the day ahead. Carrie takes care of your breakfast blues and offers you a few hot suggestions for cold fall mornings.
- If you’re looking to make the most of the summer bounty that’s coming to a head, check out Jessica’s post on the how and what to do with it.
- Katie has the corner on easy weeknight meals with her school night dinner ideas.
- Looking for how to pack amazing lunches your kids will actually eat? Katie at Kitchen Stewardship has you covered.
- Mandi takes you through once-a-month menus to start each month just a bit ahead of the game.
- You can also catch my ABC Lunch Box Ideas. Yes, ideas from every letter of the alphabet.












I tweeted as ltlbitone
https://twitter.com/ltlbitone/status/250057301870907392
Thanks for the giveaway…the juice extractor attachment would be great !
Posted on FB: http://www.facebook.com/bryan.eason.77/posts/366120553468144
I’d love this!
https://twitter.com/ambabya/status/250066387568058368
I’d love this!
Chloe S´s last post ..It’s Ok Thursdays
Once upon a time there was a woman without a food processor, she had to spend hours shredding cheese by hand. None of the stores near her carried organic cheese in shredded form. She was very sad………
You said to tell you a story! I didn’t finish this because I’d like to have a happy ending to add to it.
Christine
What a beautiful machine! I have been needing one for a long time. We’ve been making “mashed garbanzos” (with a fork) instead of hummus because we don’t have a food processor or blender. Thanks for the chance– awesome food!
Thanks for the giveaway!
This looks GREAT! I have been imagining having homemade smoothies every morning to get a burst of energy and a breakfast on the go, this would be just the thing to get it done. Thanks for the chance!
Tweet for extra entry: https://twitter.com/hazelpex712/status/250082463643217920
That looks just so yummy
Noreen´s last post ..Ice Cream for Dinner
I would love to win this food processor. It sould be great to make healthy shakes.
I’ve heard that the Magimix is a superior product. Cuisinart food processors used to be made in France, but then they went to China. I understand the Magimix is still made in France by the company that invented the food processor.
dave
I would love to win this! It would be beneficial to have in my kitchen.
pesto!
https://twitter.com/jneatherlin/status/250165789867536384
Just found you and love the site! Please enter me…will post to my facebook page as well.
tweet!
https://twitter.com/MeganWyble1/status/250305999087476737
https://twitter.com/jneatherlin/status/250568914889744384
I’ve never heard of this brand. It sounds great.
Just love the idea of food processor with the Juice Extractor and Smoothie Attachment. Something everyone can enjoy.
really love this giveaway……I need one desaperately
I would love to win this beauty!
Krissa´s last post ..Work Shift Review and {Giveaway}
I acknowledge that I’m a week late to the party.
I too am inspired by the farmers market. I love the over-powering scent of basil in the summertime. Just this week I made a pesto/hummus combo that my kids loved. I made it by mixing CSA ingredients – basil and black-eyed peas.
Wow, that is such a nice food processor, I would love to win!
That is one great food processor. I have a small-size Cuisinart that I use all the time, but since it is small, there are a lot of things I can’t make in it (damn fill line!).
I use my food processor to make pie dough, fruit-crisp dough, pasta dough, pesto, hummus,…..geez…I can’t remember all the stuff.
[...] 5 Ways to Save Time Making Family Dinners | Food for My Family [...]
A food processor is on my list of “would like to have but can’t afford right now”, so this would be perfect!
First time reading your blog – came over from Kitchen Stewardship! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great giveaway! This food processor would be so useful!
I would love to win! I’m like you and make my mini food processor leak. I desperately need a bigger one!
EEeeee, I need one of these!