Household / Small Appliances / Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer

I got my Kitchenaid Artisan Mixer during a special sale at Lowe's this year.  These mixers usually sell for $399.00 and I was able to order mine in my choice of colors for less than half of the regular price.  I had always admired these mixers and wished that I had one buy I just couldn't justify the price with as little baking as I normally do.  Or should I say did?  This mixer is so easy to use and even easier to clean up afterwards that I find myself looking for reasons to use it.  We are enjoying homemade mashed potatoes on a regular basis now since I can just put the cooked potatoes, a little butter and milk in the mixer bowl, turn it on and walk away and leave it to take care of the potatoes for me.  We have made homemade pizzas since the dough is almost effortless in this mixer.  It does all of the mixing and kneading itself.  Cookies, brownies, cakes, you name it, they are easier to make than to buy already made now.  The only problems I have found are that the plastic shield which is placed on top of the mixer bowl is very flimsy and slips and slides and seems to be very poor quality as compared to the rest of the unit and the fact that the mixer is so heavy that I tend to leave it sitting out on the counter rather than lifting it in and out of a cabinet.  Overall though, I love my mixer and don't know how I ever got along without it.