I had a wonderful mixer when married the first time (not sure if it was KA or not, but it had a blender attachment, food processor attachment, etc.), but my ex kept it and I dearly miss it. I am getting busier with cakes/cheesecakes, and I desperately need a good mixer. Yes, believe it or not, I have been using my little B&D hand mixer for all the cake batter, frostings, etc! 
I was looking at the 5 qt Artisan model on sale for $269 at a couple of places- does anyone have opinions on this one? Does anyone recommend a different one? I was hoping my kids would get me one for mother's day 
but that might be difficult to pay for- they are only 10, 9, 7, & 5!
I simply ADORE my baby pink Artisan Kitchenaid. Wouldn't trade it for all the chocolate in the world. Well...wait...let me re-think THAT one!
But it's great. I did ruin my first mixer trying to color fondant in it! 
Lesson learned. I don't mix anything in this bad-girl stronger than icing!
After watching me burn up my Hamilton Beach handheld mixer, my dh got online and researched mixers. He was impressed with the KA lift bowl mixers because they have all metal gears. I also checked here at CC and got great reviews on all the KA mixers. So he bought me the 500 Pro. I love it! It handles double batches of BC like nobody's business. I've also done double batches of chocolate chip cookie dough, and yesterday made MMF with it. It handled the fondant fine, but I wasn't completely satisfied with the kneading action so did the final kneading by hand. Still, I would totally buy this mixer again.
Check Amazon.com for prices. Many of us lucked into an unadvertised sale, which, of course, someone from the forum shared with us. I got my 5 qt professional for $174. It was $199, there was a special code we had to enter to use a $25 coupon, and shipping was free.
Theresa 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%