PHOTO COURTESY SHUTTERSTOCK

If you haven’t heard, Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner. Taking place July 16-17, the annual sale for Prime members features steep discounts on a plethora of products that range from electronics, home essentials and kitchen gadgets to deals on popular fashion and beauty items.  

In the week leading up to Prime Day, a number of some of our favorite big-tickets items for the home already are on sale. Here’s a breakdown of what to look for now — and don’t forget to keep checking for more Prime Day deals. 

Shark Attack
With the amount of fur our yellow lab sheds daily, The Shark Cordless Pet Stick Vacuum is one of our most prized possessions. Lightweight and ultra-convenient thanks to its lack of a cord, the vacuum has a bristle brush roll and strong suction that makes for powerful cleaning on both floors and carpets. It also comes with a removable, handheld vacuum that’s ideal for sucking up crumbs from couch cushions and car seats, which, if you have kids, you already know all about. As of this publishing, the vacuum is on sale for 42% off the regular price.
Price: $149.99. Buy Here. 

Barista at Home
Be your own barista with the Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, on sale now for 27% off the regular price. Part of the Barista Series, the popular all-in-one espresso machine has an integrated grinder that goes from beans to espresso in under one minute and uses a 4-key formula that makes it easy for you to create the perfect cappuccino or latte. While, admittedly, it is something of a splurge for the home, just think about all the money you’ll save annually by skipping the Starbucks line. 
Price: $549.95. Buy Here. 

Smart Move
Along with 4K Ultra High Definition and voice remote with Alexa, the 50-inch screen Insignia smart television has a built-in Fire TV, allowing viewers to easily enjoy apps such as Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ (a favorite at our house) and Hulu. It’s on sale now for 37% off the regular price.
Price: $189.99. Buy Here. 

Mix It Up
Undoubtedly one of the most-requested gifts on a wedding registry, the stalwart KitchenAid Stand Mixer is on sale now for a whooping 46% off. With more than 20 colors to choose from, the mixer — which has 10 speeds — comes with a 5-quart stainless steel bowl that can mix up to 9 dozen cookies in a single batch, allowing you to effortlessly create treats for your next Pittsburgh Cookie Table. The tilt-head design also gives at-home chefs handy access to add ingredients to the bowl.
Price: $249.99. Buy Here. 

Instant Success
Another wedding registry favorite, the versatile Instant Pot is on sale now for 42% off the regular price. The easy-to-use pot, which has quick, one-touch buttons for cooking certain foods, has nine functions, including use as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer. The 6-quart, stainless steel appliance also comes with a user’s app featuring more than 800 recipes.
Price: $74.95. Buy Here.