9 years ago this mom who had “stayed at home” since she moved to the area (Albany, NY) 1 year before, ventured out and got a part time seasonal job in a kitchen store without a whole lot of “big store” retail experience. I remember the interview well. I had to find an item in the store and “sell it” to the assistant manager. I chose a cookie mix gift jar because I knew baking. I didn’t even know most big brand kitchen products. Calphalon what? It’s funny now but it was not so funny then. I was sure I bombed it, but somehow I was hired and became one of the few who received permanent status at season’s end.
In my time there I became a kitchen product connoisseur. Calphalon, Wusthof, OXO, Le Creuset, KitchenAid and Lodge took up residence in my dream kitchen. Anytime some one came in looking for pans and asked what I would buy I took them to that wall of wonder and proceeded to find out how they cooked and what they needed. Inevitably I sold quite a few Calphalon sets because they are amazing and a girl can sell a dream when it’s HER dream. I knew features like nobody’s business – anodized, non-stick and stainless steel with a copper core, I dreamed big on a part time salary.
Fast forward to June 2013. New town, several jobs later, I made a big leap and hit “purchase” on a ticket to Eat, Write, Retreat, encouraged on by the best blogging mentor a girl could have, Pammy Pam at An Unconventional Librarian. When I thought “NO WAY”, she said, “How are you going to get there?” I got there, and learned, was inspired, grew, and WON. Calphalon gave away 2 gift certificates toward sets of “Your Set” Calphalon pans and I was one of the winners.
I held off ordering my set because I wanted to have a little extra money to add on to the set with the awesome deal they had where every piece you add gives you an extra discount. Imagine my surprise 5 days ago when I finally went to place my order and on top of the FREE shipping you automatically receive, each order also came with a 7 piece utensil set AND A Calphalon Unison Sear nonstick 12 inch everyday pan!!! (Sorry, had to throw a few exclamation marks in for good measure.) Just an FYI, you can choose Unison Nonstick or AcCuCore Stainless Steel as your base then build from there, mixing and matching as you like. I have no idea when this deal ends but don’t miss it. ( I wasn’t paid to say that either.)
The 2 on the left? Not part of my order. Those were special delivery for me to review FOR A GIVEAWAY! That’s right, you can enter for a chance to win those soon! Not pictured – 8 quart stainless steel stock pot.
A girl can dream. Sometimes it takes patience. Sometimes it takes a dream being fulfilled in an unconventional way. It may be a dream for a set of pans or bigger, like a better job, a baby, stability. No matter what it is, sometimes it takes jumping in head first, but most of all it means – DREAM BIG! REACH FOR THE STARS! BE PATIENT! You just never know when fulfilling that dream may be right around the corner.
For me one dream was a Calphalon pan dream. What’s your dream?
Today I’m linking up with A Life in Balance for Motivation Monday.
About Heather
Heather McCurdy writes at Real: The Kitchen and Beyond where she shows families how to slow down and savor life on any budget with tasty homemade recipes and family travel.
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Congrats on your win. I just want a big kitchen with an island. 🙂
Me too!! We are stuck in kitchens way below our dreams I think.
Reach for the pans, Heather! 😉
LOL. I seriously laughed out loud.
And wow, I’d be super excited too. That set is amazing.
That’s awesome! The story just keeps getting better and better!
I’d like to build a house one day…. dream house
Congrats on reaching this dream. I cannot wait to see what you cook up!
I would love to try some calphalon. Still haven’t been able to.
Caphalon pans are amazing! hmmm…. I don’t know what my dream would be… maybe that my husband could be home at 5pm every night to help me with the kids. Now, that would be a dream come true!
Wow!!! You are so lucky and I am totally jealous!! Thanks for sharing about this retreat, too, I hadn’t heard of it and I am going to look into it now! Congrats!
Oh my goodness, those pans look absolutely amazing! Congrats on getting some. I dream of having some of those pans, plus a Kitchenaid in my kitchen!
I love it! And yeah for Pam for encouraging you to do it! I know how hard you worked to go.
Woohoo! Great win!! That’s an awesome array of pans ya got there!
Congrats on your win. It is always special when you get something you have been dreaming about for so long. I know you are going to create some yummy things in those new pans!
This set looks amazing.
Congrats on your big win. I would really like to try some Calphalon pans. Happy cooking with your new kitchen goodies.
What a beautiful and encouraging story! One of my dreams is to own a really nice set of cookware (pots / pans / and all the accessories)!
Congratulations on your win! That’s fantastic! My dream is a non-metal spatula that doesn’t melt or start flaking….know of any?
I have amazing luck with silicone Spatulas. Check out my post tomorrow. I have just the ones I LOVE going live on my kitchen lover’s gift guide.
Oh my dream? To help a lot of moms who are struggling while raising kids with disabilities or food sensitivities or both! With my blog of course, and any other way.
You hit the jackpot! I would be awful working in a cooking store, I’d spend most of my paycheck before I got it!
The only way you would is if you knew it was the way the bills were getting paid. It was tough though!
SO fun!! I adore Calphalon – so happy you have a bunch of new pans (I had to give some of my old stuff away after my order – SO much for the money I thought!). Enjoy them all!
Those pans look amazing! I need some new pans too!
I love this brand, and would love to win!
My giveaway is coming right after Thanksgiving!
I haven’t heard of Calphalon sets but reading your post, seems that they are worth to try!
They are amazing. They have 5 layers with a copper layer in the middle to evenly distribute the heat. Stainless steel can be a pain to clean but I feel like it is so much healthier than non-stick.
I love Calphalon pans! They always work the best!
Congrats on your win!
That is such a great attitude! You are right that almost anything can be accomplished by patience!
I love my calphalon pans. They are great.
Calphalon makes my favorite pots!
I am so team “dream big”, I actually had a facebook cover that said that until I added a holiday themed one! I also love Calphalon pots and pans, awesome stuff!
I’d really love to have the stockpot that wasn’t pictured. 🙂
Haha! Did you look it up or just know you want it? I knew I was getting a free one to review at some point but I decided in case it fell through I HAD to order one with my set. So glad to have TWO. It will be handy during canning season especially.
oh these look great. My dream is a food processor or blender!
I am not sure how I would survive without a blender. I recently came into a KitchenAid Diamond blender and it is amazing. Before that I have always had the $30 Osters which use to be good but have gone downhill. I had a large food processor for a while and it was awesome until it broke and I found out it had a recall and never replaced it. I have a small food processor that use to be my mom’s and LOVE it. Make a wishlist!!
AWesome pans- love them! Congrats to you!
we have a pan made by this brand – what great quality! looks like you got some wonderful products!
Aren’t they? I am so in love with Calphalon. I anticipate these pans lasting pretty much forever and that is awesome.
This was so well deserved and I’m thrilled for you that you not only won but scored some extras besides. This is fantastic!
Thank you. 🙂
Winning is so much fun, especially when it’s something you really, really wanted. My dream is a Vitamix!
I am right there with you!! A Vitamix would be AMAZING! What I need next is a gourmet kitchen with tons of cabinet space to fit all my kitchen dreams into.
I have always wanted to try the Calphalon Pans!! May have to put a bug in Santa’s ear!! 🙂
Definitely worth getting pans under the tree.
I love Calphalon, too. I have a big stock pot from them on my wish list right now for holiday time. We’ve outgrown our smaller size.
Oooo, which size? I use my water bath canner when I need a ginormous pan right now. I know these 8 quart pans are going to be put to good use but I also could really use a bigger one.
That set is amazing I would love one too! Maybe Santa will bring me some too this year, that would be my dream.
Dream big!
I am so happy for you. I know this was a sweet prize for you to receive. My dream, a simple mom dream, for my children to grow up safe, secure, healthy and happy.
Thank you. That is such a good dream. I am dreaming right there with you.
I need new pots! Loved hearing about them! Need to check them out!
Oh I’d love to have that whole set, I’m in need of new pots and pans!
Invest in a lifelong set. 🙂
I love Caphalon pans! We need a new set badly.
I really need some new pot and pans I wish mine look like they had just came out the box.
I know what you mean. My set is a JC Penney set form my wedding over 12 years ago. I am so grateful to the person who gave them to us but so ready to pull out these new ones. Kitchen reorganizing happens tomorrow.
I have one Calphalon pan and love it! It was a gift, though. I find I never get around to buying nice things for myself. I should change that!
Wow, what a great set you got!
You know what? I remember when you won! I have it on my list to get a set of Calphalon pans. Glad to see you are getting good use out of yours.
Estelle
Thank you. 🙂 Calphalon, especially stainless, is a life long investment. If you use the proper utensils in the non-stick they are a great investment too.
I love this brand!
I love love love.. Calphalon products, did I say LOVE yet?? I use my pots and pans every day and have them for 2 years now and will never ever buy any other brand; they clean easy, cooking is amazing in the pots and pans and my new favorite… the diswasher safe pots and pans.. I always buy Calphalon for my friends as gifts and always highly recommend them (nope, not being paid to say that either)…. just overall a great company with amazing products and boy I have to check out that deal.. sounds like I need to grab a few of my favorite things for the holidays
Haha! I hear you. Calphalon is just amazing.