The following is a guest post from our sponsor, P&G HYTTY.

As a mom, I’m sure you know all too well the need to take on many different roles or “hats” to ensure your family has everything they need day in and day out. Whether it’s being the family “doctor,” “chef,” or “accountant” in addition to “Mom,” finding product solutions that improve life’s daily demands are MUST-DOs on your never ending TO-DO list! If only you had insider access to discovering ways to get the job done right the FIRST time around, ultimately helping to transform life’s daily demands for the better ... Sound too good to be true?

Think what you want of former Real Housewives of New York star Kelly Bensimon, but the woman has good taste. Remember when we took you through a tour of her to-die-for New York City pad? Well, feast your eyes upon her 5,800-square-foot Hamptons mansion, which incidentally, could be yours ... if you happen to have an extra $12 million lying around.

Yes, Kelly is up and moving out of her East Hampton estate. Why? Who knows. Doubt it has anything to do with her getting fired from RHONY as A) she owned the house before she was on the show, and B) Housewives don't make that kind of money. But who cares? Thanks to Kelly's decision to put her home on the market, we get to soak up some hot, steamy, unadulterated real estate porn ... Mmmm ... I hope you're alone.

During cold and flu season, most of us know to swipe the kitchen counter with an antibacterial wipe and clean our faucet handles frequently. But germs lurk in some surprising places, and despite those precautions, you still might be missing a major source of viruses and bacteria that could make you sick.

If you want to reduce the chances of your family catching a cold and/or the flu this year, follow these six easy steps to germ-proof your house:

I've found the perfect Santa's Little Helper to get me through the holidays this year. He's short, he's got an overbite, and he does dishes. Meet Pete, the scrubbing monkey! Not only does he leave pots shining, he does it all with a baby on his back. Yup, he's the ultimate baby-wearing kitchen assistant, and he is so invited to my place this Christmas.

Childcare provider, pot-scrubber, and adorable critter? All in one? And he's so thorough in his scrubbing, too! This is the ultimate Christmas present for the busy mom, right? I want one.

There's nothing quite as pleasant as a leisurely breakfast on a sunny morning. Maybe it's because it's very much a rarity here or because maple syrup is so delicious, but I would be content if that was my Christmas present this year. Of course, I would ask for one of these breakfast nooks to go along with it. Don't they look wonderfully cozy?

Congratulations to our winner, angiewith2!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and you know what that means. 'Tis the season to be spending loads of time in the kitchen! That's why we're teaming up with Sharp to give one lucky Stir reader a Sharp SteamWave Oven.

The 3-in-1 cooking machine will make holiday cooking a whole lot easier, allowing users to steam, grill, AND microwave. Featuring 11 different cooking power levels, there's a setting for everything from potatoes to beef. Say helloooo to holiday cheer in the form of a kitchen appliance!

To enter to win a Sharp SteamWave Oven, simply tell me:

When I was little, my favorite room in the house was always the kitchen. I grew up in a family where food was a really big deal, and I can remember the smells wafting from my Nana's kitchen -- tomato sauce simmering, meat being sauteed, sausage and peppers, and waffles in the iron. To this day, the main room in my house is always the kitchen. 

There is something about the warmth of food straight out of the oven that says loving, right? The living room may be the place where people focus their cleaning efforts when company comes, but it's the kitchen that is the heart of the house.

The kitchens that have meant the most to me over the years have always combined the best of smells, warmth, and color. Is there anything more relaxing and lovely than sitting in a kitchen warmed by baking bread while talking to the people you love?

The East Coast may be in the middle of the floodpocalypse, but the South is still suffering through some of the worst drought conditions on record.

Even when there’s no shortage, saving water is just good policy. As a child, I used to watch my dad shave. Rather than running the water over his razor to rinse it, he would fill the sink with water and swish the razor through at top speed. He said that serving in the Navy taught him how precious water is. 

“Why don’tcha save some for the fish,” he’d mutter, if I was letting the tap run too long.

We could all stand to preserve a few drops this summer. Here are some tips for saving water at home. Some are strange, some are easy, and some will save you buckets of cash on your water bill, for reals.