hi Sarah,
We got a Vitamix last year and are absolutely delighted with it. It makes smoothies as thick as you want, ice cream, soup, baby food, you name it and it can do it. What we like is that you use the whole fruit, pulph and all, which we think is important for fibre, roughage etc. Only problem is the price. It is from memory 550 euros bought at the gardening exhibition in Mallow last June. Would we buy again! ? Yes. My sister asked us to get one also, which we ordered on line. Delivery was ok, a little slow, but they charged us some extra than agreed when we ordered. Check the website and see if they are doing a show exhibition in Ireland sometime. Cheaper there and no hassle. This was the way we bought the first one. Let me know whta you do. As I say they are expensive. Optimistic