"The Vitamix A3500 Smart Blender ($525, originally $700) is a financial commitment, it's true, but it's high-quality and easy-to-use; just press the pre-programmed smoothie button and let the blender do all the work. The result is a smoothie blended to thick, perfect, juice-like consistency. The self-cleaning feature is a game-changer (no more tearing up your sponges in the blades) and the blender comes with a cookbook of recipes for smoothies, acai bowls, dressings, and even soups that I'll definitely be trying as we get deeper into Winter." — Maggie Ryan, assistant editor, Fitness