Product Reviews

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I’d been hearing the buzz around Lush’s Sticky Dates line for what feels like forever. I actually smelled the scent a little over a year ago, during a quick trip to the mall. I popped into Lush, where I beelined for the Sticky Dates shower gel solely to get a whiff of the viral scent everyone was talking about. Fast forward to now, and it’s still showing up on my feed. As a certified foodie, what more could I want than to smell like a bakery? Recently, I finally decided I needed to   try it for myself.

The Sticky Dates Shower Gel is where I started, and it’s the product I keep coming back to. After a workout in my little home gym, where I’m sweaty and ready to reset, it’s the first thing I grab in the shower. The moment even a small drizzle hits my loofah, the smell blooms instantly, like standing in front of your oven waiting for sticky buns to rise. It’s syrupy and rich, with a vanilla-date sweetness and caramel-like richness that feels warm and indulgent without falling flat. There’s a reason this gel continues to trend and sell out. It creates a scent that slings in the best way, one that makes a post-workout shower feel like a reward instead of a chore.

he Sticky Dates Body Lotion takes that sweetness and stretches it further. The texture is thickwithout being greasy, and once the product melts in, it locks the scent onto your skin in a softer, cozier way than the gel alone. The lotion doesn’t disappear after an hour, either—I catch faint whiffs of it throughout the day, which makes the effort of layering worthwhile.

Speaking of layering, the Sticky Dates Body Spray is where opinions split. At first spritz, on top of the other two products, I’ll admit I didn’t love the smell. The opening is loud, almost aggressively sweet, and when I sprayed it in the air and walked through while getting ready for the day, I worried I’d made a mistake. But once it settled on my skin, the sharpness faded, and it blended seamlessly with the shower gel and lotion. The final effect reminded me of a sticky bun, with the body spray acting as the “table-side drizzle experience,” you could say. Make sure you let the spray sit and dissipate for a moment, and you’ll agree that the products work together and sit on top of the skin in a sweet but balanced way.

This trio has been everywhere lately, largely thanks to Love Island USA winner Leah Kateb. She put Sticky Dates in her shower routine videos on social media, and the products immediately started selling out online and in stores. After using them, I get the appeal. They’re not subtle, but they create a clear identity—cozy, sweet, and a little playful.

Altogether, this routine leans unapologetically gourmand. It’s fun, indulgent, and undeniably popular for a reason. While the spray takes some patience, the gel and lotion alone are strong enough to justify the hype. Used together, they create a layered scent story that really does make you feel like you’ve stepped out of a bakery—and I can’t say I’m mad about smelling like pancakes and sticky buns every day.

I recently added a stainless steel bowl and a scraper attachment to my pink KitchenAid  Stand Mixer—an appliance already known for its reliability, versatility, and design. These two upgrades aren’t just accessories; they are thoughtful tools that make the process of baking more efficient and enjoyable. 

The pink KitchenAid mixer has a story of its own. KitchenAid first introduced the color as part of its “Cook for the Cure” initiative, a long-running partnership with Susan G. Komen that began in the early 2000s. The campaign featured pink kitchen tools and appliances, with a portion of sales supporting breast cancer awareness and research. Over the years, this line has raised millions of dollars while making a bold design statement in countless kitchens. My own mixer has a family connection to that history, as my grandmother is a breast cancer survivor, making the color all the more meaningful. 

The stainless steel bowl is one of the most functional additions I could have chosen. Having both a glass and a steel bowl on hand makes it easy to move between recipes without interruption. I can prepare batter in one and frosting in the other without having to stop and wash up mid-process. The steel itself is durable, dishwasher-safe, and resistant to wear, so that it can handle frequent use without issue. It also has the practical advantage of keeping old ingredients cool and looks sharp when paired with the soft pink base of the mixer. 

The scraper attachment has proven to be just as transformative. I had seen it on social media before finally purchasing it from Williams Sonoma, and it quickly became indispensable. Unlike standard attachments, this one automatically scrapes the sides of the bowl as it mixes, pulling ingredients back into the blend with no extra effort. That slight adjustment saves time, reduces waste, and ensures that mixtures are evenly incorporated. For someone who bakes frequently and enjoys experimenting, the difference is significant. I can focus on creativity and technique rather than stopping to adjust, clean, or scrape. 

Together, the stainless steel bowl and scraper attachment elevate an appliance I already loved. They remove friction from the process and create a smoother, more streamlined baking experience. For anyone who spends serious time in the kitchen, these are not just nice extras—they are practical, everyday improvements that make the KitchenAid mixer an even more valuable companion. 

When it comes to premium kitchen appliances, Miele has a reputation for setting the standard, and their 30” Handless Compact Speed Oven is a perfect example. I’ve been using it in my own home, and what I love most is that it proves a speed oven is so much more than a fancy microwave. Yes, I lean on it daily for reheating and quick meals, but it also bakes, roasts, crisps, and browns with a level of precision I never expected from such a compact unit. 

Speed ovens themselves aren’t brand-new—companies like GE popularized the idea in the late 90s with hybrid models that combined microwave energy and convection. But Miele has refined the category, bringing their German engineering and premium performance to a space once dominated by basic appliances. Their speed ovens are widely recognized as some of the best on the market, striking a balance between everyday convenience and chef-level results.  

The Compact Speed Oven combines microwave, convection, and conventional oven functions into one sleek unit. It includes innovative presets (intensive bake, low temperature cooking, grill, fan + grill, auto roast, defrost/gentle thaw, crisp function, Eco Fan, bottom heat, Sabbath Mode), a roast probe for precise temperature monitoring, and combination cooking modes that allow food to heat quickly while still developing color and texture. Unlike a standard microwave, it doesn’t just warm food—it actually cooks it, giving you crispy edges, golden tops, and evenly cooked interiors. The handless design also blends seamlessly into modern kitchens, which I appreciate every time I see it in mine. 

How I Use it Day-to-Day

For me, this appliance has become a lifesaver on weeknights. I’ll use the microwave mode for soups or quick reheats, but the convection setting is where it shines. Vegetables like Swiss chard, broccoli, and cauliflower come out roasted and caramelized. At times, I’ve even made cookies and brownies that cook evenly without drying out. On busier days, the combination mode allows me to cook chicken breast or a piece of salmon in record time while still achieving the roasted finish you’d expect from a traditional oven. It’s convenient in the summer when I don’t want to preheat my full-sized oven.

Pros, Cons, and Who It’s For

The biggest pro is versatility; you truly get multiple appliances in one, without compromising results. It’s energy-efficient, quick to preheat, and just as capable of making a perfect baked potato as it is of preparing a tray of roasted vegetables. The main cons are size—it’s not suitable for oversized dishes—and price, as Miele firmly sits in the premium category. However, if you want an appliance that does more than just microwave, and you cook often, like I do, it’s a worthwhile investment that pays off in both time and performance. 

Final Thoughts

Owning the Miele Compact Speed Oven has changed the way I think about small appliances. Instead of relegating it to leftovers, I use it for everything from weekday dinners to weekend baking. It’s an appliance that feels indulgent yet practical, proving that “speed” cooking can be about more than convenience; it can also be about quality. For anyone looking to upgrade their kitchen with a versatile, high-performing oven, Miele’s speed oven is an easy recommendation.