I can’t tell you how long I’ve been thinking about buying a Miele vacuum cleaner. They have an amazing reputation for being well built, long-lasting, lightweight, quiet and, most importantly, GREAT for allergy sufferers. Well, this clogged-head finally bit the pricey bullet on Saturday and laid out nearly $500 for the lovely number you see above. Believe me, it was a not an easy decision, but now that I’ve brought her home I can tell you – it was worth it. I never thought I would get excited about vacuuming, but there really is no comparison between this one and my old, cheap Dirt Devil. What clinched the deal for me was this particular model, a Medivac, was first made for use in nursing homes. This means they come equipped with a special Hepa filter, so clean air spews forth while you vacuum. It also came with at turbo brush attachment that works like a charm on both hardwood floors and shag carpets. Not to mention it’s darn cute, with a little green cross on the front. They’re hard to find (mine was the last model at Gracious Home and was marked down by $200). If you want something similar, I highly recommend the Red Star for around the same price. Have you bought something pricey for your home that is “totally worth it?” We’d love to hear about it!– Angela M.

Well, it was another beautiful weekend here in NYC — clear skies, light breezes, T-shirt temps. Which meant another weekend of crazy bad allergies pour moi. In a case you haven’t heard, we’re having the worst allergy season on record; something about an exceptionally warm winter (read: global warming) and an extended period of pollination. So I have decided to try something new: We heard an NPR story the other day about beekeepers in Manhattan, which mentioned that consuming locally-grown honey helps allergy sufferers. A little digging online confirmed that this is indeed a common theory; eating honey that was raised very near to where you live may act like an immune system booster. Technically you’re supposed to begin consuming the honey a few months BEFORE pollination, but I figure late is better than never. I picked up some Rooftop Honey at the flea market, distributed by Berkshire Berries, but completely created here in the Big Apple. Apparently beehives thrive quite easily in NYC, and the resulting honey is of an excellent quality. I’m going to work it into my yogurt and granola breakfast habit; at least a teaspoon a day isrecommended. I’ll let you know if I notice any results, though I’m guessing the new vacuum cleaner I just bought (more on that soon) will help more. — Angela M.