33 Easy-To-Use Kitchen Products
You may have seen these on TikTok!EZ Bombs is a small biz that specializes in different cooking bombs like pozole, tinga, and, of course, birria!Okay, so to use these, grab a chuck roast (up to four pounds), cut it into chunks, add four cups of water (some reviewers use broth instead), and toss one of these babies in. Let it cook *in my GloRilla voice* (cook time will depend on how you cook it), and then add it to your tacos, quesadillas, burritos, ramen, nachos, taquitos, whatever you want! The bombs contain a blend of 13 different spices and chiles like arbol, guajillo, and ancho. Here are the cooking times for different ways of cooking — pressure cooker: an hour and 45 minutes, slow cooker: six hours on high or eight hours on low, stovetop: three hours on low heat *or* until fork tender. Promising review: "This seasoning has been a game-changer for my quesabirrias. I used it with chuck roast, and the results were incredible — full of bold, authentic flavor. It's incredibly simple to use, and the seasoning blend does all the heavy lifting. Definitely worth keeping stocked for quick, flavorful meals." —Ruby VizuetGet a pack of two from Amazon for $19.99.
Or a two-pack of tinga bombs packed with a blend of yummy, flavorful ingredients like chipotle peppers, tomatoes, cumin, oregano, and onions to make dinner delicious, and easy. Forget the long, tedious prep, these make cooking a breeze. Simply sauté some white onion, add your chicken thighs, and plop a tinga bomb in. Wait 20 minutes, and *voila*, tasty tinga!
These bad boys are perfect for tacos, tostadas, sopes, tortas, rice bowls, and more.Check 'em out on TikTok!Promising review: "This has been one of the easiest and most delicious meals I've ever made. My kids, who are extremely picky eaters, are completely obsessed with it. I honestly didn't expect them to love it this much, but now it's one of our go-to meals. So simple, so flavorful… total mom win." —nichole munozGet a two-pack from Amazon for $19.99.
A reviewer-beloved 4-in-1 veggie chopper for my friends who can't dice a vegetable without a potential trip to the hospital. (🙋🏽♀️) If chopping those veggies seems too time-consuming, this will save you sooo much time. Spiral, slice, and dice with this super convenient, dishwasher-safe kitchen gadget.
An instant-read meat thermometer because whenever you cook chicken, it isn't totally cooked throughout, or it's super dry because you overcooked it. Well, no more guessing games! This thermometer is unique because it has a temperature chart on it that'll be a guide for all your meat cooking. Plus, it's waterproof so it's soooo easy to handwash!
A cult-fave programmable Instant Pot Duo that's a pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, sauté pan, steamer, and rice cooker...what can't this thing do? Toss the ingredients in, hit the button, and this will handle the rest. Reviewers are making everything from cheesecake and ribs to boiled eggs and flan in it! Kinda like an adult Magic Mixie.
A set of silicone oven rack edge protectors because last week you burned yourself a total of 47 times trying to cook dinner and darn near threw the whole meal away because of it. These'll protect your skin from cooking along with your food when you're sliding things in and out of the oven, so you don't *almost* drop the whole tray of baked mac 'n' cheese and ruin both dinner and your mood.
A Ninja air fryer for the most scrumptious, crispy food with little to no effort. Frozen chicken nuggets, raw steak, pizza, whatever you throw in it will be yummy. This thing is like a literal wish from your fairy godmother because it makes cooking so dang easy and makes meals as magically delicious as the lil' Lucky Charms leprechaun.
Or a dual zone air fryer so you can *finally* make your Trader Joe's wings and waffle fries at the same time. It has precise temperatures for both baskets so as one part of your meal air fries, the other part can grill. This baby can air fry, grill, dehydrate, bake, roast, broil, reheat, and toast and best of all, if you download the app, you can connect to Wi-Fi and control it all from your phone! Obvi, it takes multitasking very seriously.
A bottle of seriously yummy Mike's Hot Honey to take your homemade dinner to the next level. A perfect blend of sweet and spicy — you probz won't be able to resist the urge to put this stuff on literally everything. It'll taste like Gordon Ramsay cooked it, and you won't even have to be called an idiot sandwich.
A set of three angled measuring cups because these are not the same knees you used to drop it like it's hot with and bending down to be eye level with your measuring cup means it'll take you 10 minutes to stand back up.
A frying pan splatter screen so you can fry up that bacon without being constantly popped by the oil (and wanting to pop it back). It'll work like a shield so you don't need to dress like an umpire in a baseball game to be sure that you're not in a scorching hot, greasy battlefield.
A sleek acrylic kitchen conversion chart for your fridge so you don't hit any bumps in the road while baking. Especially since you're easily distracted and end up scrolling for 30 minutes when you go to look up the conversions on your phone.
Circle and Square Decor is a Spanish Fork, Utah-based woman-owned small biz that specializes in family calendars, home and wedding decor, chore charts, and more!Promising review: "I just love my new conversion chart! It's really cute and gives the impression that I'm an excellent cook/baker. :) I even had it personalized to match my family calendar right next to it. A must for any kitchen!" —jacGet it from Circle and Square Decor on Etsy for $32+ (available in three sizes and two colors).
A subscription to Blue Apron if grocery shopping and cooking are things you barely have time to fit in; this'll help take those tasks off your to-do list. You'll get some seriously delicious meals, and many of 'em take less than half an hour to whip up! And if you don't wanna whip up a gosh darn thing, they *also* have fresh, pre-made meals that can be heated up in just two minutes.
A bottle of truffle seasoning to satisfy your bougie tastebuds and your crying wallet at the same time. Your homemade meals just got a major upgrade in a matter of seconds. Ava and Melissa weren't trying to steal those truffles on Abbott Elementary for no reason, y'all — they're delicious!
A rapid egg cooker that'll make you the best eggs everrrrr. Like 'em scrambled? This can do that. Boiled? Not a challenge. Omelet? Easy peasy. And it'll do most of the work for you, so you can relax while your eggs poach.
A pink heart-shaped Paris Hilton Dutch oven you can use as a braiser, sauté pan, saucepan, roaster, slow cooker, and artisan bread pan. It'll def be your new favorite dish because let's be serious, it fits the vibes. How could you not wanna constantly cook in something so cutesy?! It works on all stovetops and is oven safe up to 500 degrees. Think about it, heart-shaped bread — that's hot.
A silicone clip-on strainer that'll make draining pasta, veggies, and everything else a total breeze. Dishwasher-safe, check. Transferring process eliminated, check. Easy to use and store, check. What's not to love?
A granite stone electric pizza oven because fancy restaurant–style pies + friends + wine + blankets sounds like a total vibe. It'll feel like you traveled to Italy for some yummy brick oven 'za when *really* you made it in your living room in under six minutes. OOOH! And! You can whip up ooey, gooey cinnamon buns, *frozen pie*, quesadillas, and apple puffs in this baby, too! treats and pepperoni pies = heaven.
A jar of chili onion crisp that you can basically throw on everything. Veggies, noodles, meat, even ice cream — you won't be able to eat without this savory, spicy, umami-flavored, crunchy goodness drizzled on top. Don't be surprised when this stuff has you in an absolute freakin' chokehold. I won't judge you if you keep a jar in your purse.
A Trader Joe's cookbook because sometimes you think *maybe I should start cooking full meals rather than surviving off of TJ's orange chicken.* I mean, lamb loin with a pomegranate reduction, that sounds so adult-y and delish. Plus, it includes options for different diets like keto, vegan, and vegetarian meals!
A set of three stainless-steel mixing bowls with lids, but not just any lids, they're freezer safe and have built-in graters. From salads to cheese for mac, this'll def make food prep easy as heck.
The lids are not dishwasher-safe, but the bowls are!Promising reviews: "These are great mixing bowls. Each bowl has its own lid. The largest bowl's lid has a removable center that you can place grating attachments in or leave open, and when using your hand mixer, the edge stops liquids from splashing out. The bottoms are rubberized, so no sliding while you mix. I actually had made a salad in the largest container, placed the lid on, and put it in the refrigerator, where it kept everything fresh for the week. No mushy lettuce at the bottom!" —DeeS."High-quality bowls made to last. They haven't scratched up yet. I love the non-slip bottoms; they're perfect for hand mixing on slippery countertops. The lids with shredding/slicing attachments are awesome. Makes prepping so much faster. I'm planning to order more as backups, just so I don't overuse/over wash the one set." —TamiGet a set of three from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in three color sets and a 5-piece set).
A smart cutting board and knife set that comes with four color-coded, stainless-steel knives and cutting boards that are each for cutting up specific items. The boards are labeled — one for fish, one for bread, one for produce, and one for poultry, so you can avoid cross-contamination. It comes with a holder that'll dry your tools and then use a built-in UV light to sterilize 'em so they're ready to go the next time you use them!
A classic KitchenAid stand mixer because although you'll only be making box muffins and brownies, do you really wanna stand there and mix the batter by hand? What is this, the Stone Age? Use it to whip up batches of cookies, knead dough, shred chicken, or even grab attachments for makin' homemade pasta and ice cream if you're feelin' fancy. And it comes in tons of colors to match the vibe of your kitchen.
I def have this and love it. It comes in handy more often than I would have thought. I used to be a baker (I know, what haven't I done, a girl with many talents), so when I moved on my own, although I knew I wasn't gonna be regularly baking tiered cakes, I knew I needed one. I've used it to shred chicken for empanadas, mix up Christmas cookies, whip cream cheese for mini cheesecake tarts, mix deviled egg filling, and much more. It's honestly a must-have. Do I use it daily? No. Weekly? No. But I live alone and survive off of girl dinner, so the oven barely even gets touched, honestly. When I do need it, it's extremely convenient, and the bowl and attachments can easily be thrown in the dishwasher. I love my KitchenAid.Promising review: "This mixer is all that I had hoped it would be! Nice heavy weight. Beautiful color. The attachments go on easily and securely. Handles bread dough easily and no sticking on the sides of the bowl. Also handles pizza dough well. Makes kneading super simple. Made cookies for the holidays, and what a dream when creaming the butter and sugar. Cannot wait to try all the other functions that make this stand mixer as well-regarded as it is. Wish I had purchased this years ago. Highly highly recommend!" —MelB33Get it from Amazon for $379.95+ (available in 22 colors).
A Kochblume spill stopper you'll wonder how you ever lived without. No more worrying about the water boiling over the second you take your eye off of it. Cuz nothing's worse than hearing that sizzle of the overflowing water hitting the stove.
A grape and tomato zip slicer, because do you really wanna sit there and individually cut up cherry tomatoes for your salad? Didn't think so. This'll get it done in no time.
A nonstick masher to ensure that you get the smoothest of smooth mashed potatoes every time. Not a single lump will survive against this lil' tool *plus* you can use it to break up meats and veggies and then toss it in the dishwasher after.
A nonstick 4-cup egg frying pan to elevate your DIY McMuffins to the highest of heights. You'll get a perfectly circular egg and be ready to open your own breakfast sandwich shop.
Promising review: "This pan is incredible. If this pan started to wear out after only a year of using it, I would buy it again because I have used this pan every single day this year and it performs the same today as it did when I first bought it. I've made all kinds of things in this pan (mostly eggs), but I have made mini frittatas with fresh veggies, I've made perfect sunny side up, over easy, over medium, and well done eggs. I've cooked burgers in this, a variety of pancake types, bacon bits, and chorizo. This pan cooks perfectly on medium-low. It is so easy to clean. This pan has changed my life and I talk about this pan to everyone I know. Sounds ridiculous, but it is just that awesome." —John C.Get it from Amazon for $25.99.
A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs, or "salad scissors" that'll make chopping up your salad into bite-size pieces a total breeze. And these bad boys don't stop at salads, they can cut up your veggies and meats too!
A Dash mini waffle maker that's cute, itty bitty, and will heat up in moments. You can even make a batch and freeze 'em for later rather than buying the ones in the store. And if you're ever just not feeling breakfast, you can make all kinds of other yummy foods like hash browns, paninis, biscuits, or even pizza!
Or a stuffed waffle maker because hellooooo, a stuffed freakin' waffle?! Like, waffles stuffed with Nutella and bananas? Sounds fire. Or stuffed with fried chicken?! Don't get me started.
A set of genius, nonstick, heat-safe sheet pan dividers that'll make meal prepping so much less dreadful. You'll be able to throw everything in the oven all at once and then just grab one of the little trays if your Brussels sprouts take less time to cook than your chicken.
A breakfast sandwich maker so you can save some money in the long run and make some tasty breakfast sandwiches in only five minutes. And there's no need to stress over cleaning it, because every removable part of this appliance is dishwasher safe! Grab those griddle cakes from Trader Joe's and let this bb cook your eggs and bacon while also toasting your little pancakes at the same time. McDonald's is shaking.
A Vitamix Venturist Pro smart blender that'll have you ditching the expensive weekly runs to Smoothie King and making the absolute ~smoothest~ of smoothies right at home. You can make hot soup in this baby (I know, right, witchcraft), as well as frozen treats, purees, smoothies and juices, dips and spreads, dressings and sauces, and baby food, plus grind nuts and coffee and even mix batters and dough. Obvi, its powers are limitless.
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Atlantic
3 hours ago
- Atlantic
Are We Witnessing a Marriage Comeback?
'There is zero statistical advantage' to getting married if you are a man in America today, Andrew Tate argued in a viral 2022 video on 'why modern men don't want marriage.' Women, he believes, are worthless anchors—'They want you monogamous so that your testosterone level drops,' he posted on X last fall—and your marriage is likely to end in ruin anyway. 'If you use your mind, if you use your head instead of your heart, and you look at the advantages to getting married,' there are none. The loudest voice in the manosphere is infamous for many things, including criminal charges of human trafficking, rape, and assault. (Tate has denied these charges.) But he is also notorious for launching a new front in the culture wars over marriage, aimed mostly at teenage boys and young men. Tate believes that men no longer receive the deference they deserve from women in marriage, and bear more risk in divorce. He argues that men should focus on getting strong, making lots of money, and using—but not investing themselves in—the opposite sex. His evident appeal—clips of Tate garner hundreds of millions of impressions on YouTube and TikTok—would seem to be yet one more sign that our oldest social institution is in trouble. Brad Wilcox: The awfulness of elite hypocrisy on marriage Critics on the left have been questioning the value of the institution for much longer, albeit from a different angle and with less venom than Tate. The realities of marriage in recent decades no doubt provide fuel for several varieties of criticism. Before divorce became widely permissible in the 1970s, difficult marriages—and even dangerous ones, for women—were by no means rare. Many women's career dreams were thwarted by the demands of marriage, and some still are today. Many men have been hit hard financially and sidelined from their children's lives by divorce. Innumerable children of divorce have had their faith in marriage extinguished by their parents' inability to get along (a pattern that may help explain Tate's animus toward the institution; his parents divorced when he was a child). Some of these dynamics are both a cause and a consequence of the great family revolution of the late 20th century—one in which divorce and single parenthood surged. The share of prime-age adults (25 to 55) who were married fell from 83 percent in 1960 to 57 percent in 2010, according to census data, and the share of children born to unmarried parents rose from 5 to 41 percent. These trends have left Americans bearish about marriage. Until 2022, the share of prime-age adults who were married was still on a long, slow downward march. According to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey, a plurality of men and women were 'pessimistic about the institution of marriage and the family.' From the October 1997 issue: Can the government prevent divorce? But reports of marriage's demise are exaggerated. Rather quietly, the post-'60s family revolution appears to have ended. Divorce is down and the share of children in two-parent families is up. Marriage as a social institution is showing new strength—even among groups that drifted away from the institution in the 20th century, including Black and working-class Americans. And contrary to criticisms on the left and right, that's good news not only for America's kids, but also—on average, though not always—for married men and women today. 'If the ongoing revolution in family and gender arrangements is largely irreversible,' the progressive family historian Stephanie Coontz said in an address to the National Council on Family Relations in 2013, 'then we have to recognize divorced families, single-parent families, and married-couple families are all here to stay.' At the time of her talk, the divorce rate was about twice as high as it had been in 1960, though it had come down somewhat from its 1981 peak. Nonmarital childbearing, meanwhile, had recently climbed to a record high. But even as Coontz spoke, two important shifts in family dynamics were under way. First, the decline in the divorce rate was accelerating. Since the early 1980s, the divorce rate has now fallen by almost 40 percent—and about half of that decline has happened in just the past 15 years. (Unless otherwise noted, all figures in this article are the result of my analysis of national data.) The idea that marriage will end in failure half the time or more—well entrenched in many American minds—is out-of-date. The proportion of first marriages expected to end in divorce has fallen to about 40 percent in recent years. Second, nonmarital childbearing, after almost half a century of increase, stalled out in 2009 at 41 percent, ticking down to about 40 percent a few years later, where it has remained. For children, less divorce and a small decline in childbearing outside wedlock mean more stability. After falling for more than 40 years beginning in the late 1960s, the share of children living in married families bottomed out at 64 percent in 2012 before rising to 66 percent in 2024, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. And the share of children raised in an intact married family for the duration of their childhood has climbed from a low point of 52 percent in 2014 to 54 percent in 2024. A third shift may now be under way as well, although it is much less established than the first two. The rate of new marriages among prime-age adults, which hit a nadir during the pandemic, has risen in each of the three years of data since 2020. In 2023, the most recent year available, it was higher than in any year since 2008. At least some of this increase is a post-pandemic bounce, but the share of all prime-age adults who are married has also leveled off in the past few years, which suggests that the decades-long decline in the proportion of Americans who are married may have reached its low point. Listen: The new divide in American marriage Some of these shifts are modest. Coontz was surely right that couples and families in the U.S. will continue to live in a variety of arrangements. And particular caution is warranted as to the number of new marriages—it is quite possible that the longer trend toward fewer people marrying will reassert itself. But as a likely success story for those who do wed, and as an anchor for American family life, marriage looks like it's coming back. Stable marriage is a norm again, and the way that most people rear the rising generation. The Harvard anthropologist Joseph Henrich has observed that 'marriage represents the keystone institution for most—though not all—societies and may be the most primeval of human institutions.' On every continent and in every era, in more patriarchal societies and more egalitarian ones, it has governed family relationships. As an institution, it seems to build on the 'evolutionary psychology of both men and women,' writes Nicholas Christakis, a sociologist at Yale, which 'is to exchange love for support.' The institution's record contains no shortage of injustices. In many times and places, marriage has been bound up with the oppression of women. (This article focuses mostly on heterosexual marriages, because marriage was not legal for same-sex couples until very recently.) Still, given the long history of marriage's persistence, its recent resilience in the U.S. should not be shocking. Nor should the reasons for that resilience. As it has before, marriage in the U.S. is adapting to changing circumstances and expectations. It is different now from the institution that looked so troubled in the late 1960s and the '70s. One notable example is family care. Most marriages in the United States today are not throwbacks to the '50s when it comes to domestic responsibilities; husbands are more willing to lean in. The amount of time that American fathers spend on child care increased from 2.5 hours a week in 1965 to nine hours in 2024, according to Pew and the American Time Use Survey. Over this same period, the share of time spent on child care by dads rose from 25 to 62 percent of what moms provided. Indeed, one reason the United States' birth rate may be higher than those of East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea—where the fertility rate has fallen to 1.15 and 0.75 babies per woman, respectively, well below the U.S. rate of 1.6—is that men in those countries do much less child care and household labor than men in the U.S. Even as women around the world embrace the 'egalitarian frontier,' in the words of the social scientist Alice Evans, men in some cultures have maintained their old habits. 'As a result,' Evans writes, 'the sexes drift apart.' This may help explain why South Korea has seen marriages tank and its fertility rate fall to the lowest in the world. There is no single model for a good marriage in the U.S. today, and most couples have their struggles. Men still do less child care and housework, and disagreements over the division of household labor are a source of tension for some couples. Many women still value some traditional traits in men, such as breadwinning, and some men's unreliability as breadwinners is a source of strain for them and their wives. A 2016 study on divorce published in the American Sociological Review found that when a husband was not employed full-time, his risk of divorce shot up by 33 percent the following year; when a wife was unemployed, her odds of divorce did not change. Employment difficulties among less-educated men are a big reason marriage rates are lower among the working class than among college graduates. Olga Khazan: Why it's so hard to get so many men to do more housework But on the whole, marriage confers benefits to women and men alike. According to the 2024 General Social Survey, married men and women ages 25 to 55 are more than twice as likely to be 'very happy' with their life as their nonmarried peers. Married people—men and women both—live longer, are more financially secure, and build more wealth than single Americans. In 2022, I worked with YouGov to survey some 2,000 married men and women, asking about their overall marital happiness and how they'd rate their spouse on a range of indicators. The happiest wives in the survey were those who gave their husbands good marks for fairness in the marriage, being attentive to them, providing, and being protective (that is, making them feel safe, physically and otherwise). Specifically, 81 percent of wives age 55 or younger who gave their husbands high marks on at least three of these qualities were very happily married, compared with just 25 percent of wives who gave them high marks on two or fewer. And, in part because most wives were reasonably happy with the job their husband was doing on at least three out of four of these fronts, most wives were very happy with their husband, according to our survey. In fact, we found that more than two-thirds of wives in this age group—and husbands, too—were very happy with their marriage overall. I believe it's important for teen boys and young men to hear the entirety of this message. Marriage changes men, but not in the nefarious ways Andrew Tate might think. Men work harder and find more success at work after they get married; they drink less as well. And marriage can channel noble characteristics and behaviors that have classically been identified with masculinity: protection, provision, ambition, stoicism. That's good for both men and women—and can help young men identify and work toward a model of prosocial masculinity that diverges from the one being peddled by manosphere influencers such as Tate. Marriage's comeback is good news for society: Children raised in two-parent homes are much more likely to graduate from college than those raised in other families, and less likely to be incarcerated. Kids who don't live with both of their married parents are far more likely to be depressed than those raised in intact families. After surveying the research on child well-being, the economist Melissa Kearney concluded that the 'evidence is clear, even if the punchline is uncomfortable: children are more likely to thrive—behaviorally and academically, and ultimately in the labor market and adult life—if they grow up with the advantages of a two-parent home.' Her view reflects the mainstream academic consensus on family structure and children today. Melissa Kearney: A driver of inequality that not enough people are talking about But marriage's comeback is, of course, incomplete. Although the trend may be starting to reverse, the share of all Americans who get married has fallen significantly since the '60s, and there is abundant evidence that many young adults today are reluctant to marry, or are having trouble finding partners they want to marry. In particular, marriage has become more selective over time socioeconomically. A majority of college-educated Americans ages 25 to 55 (62 percent) are married, versus a minority of less-educated Americans (49 percent), according to the 2023 American Community Survey. This bifurcation did not exist half a century ago and is one reason marriages are more durable today: Money makes everything easier. The plight of working-class men in the labor force is worth underlining here. Among prime-age men, the less educated are nearly twice as likely not to be employed full-time as those with a college degree. And as working-class men's connection to the labor force has frayed, so too has their connection to the ties that bind. If, as a society, we want more adults to see their way into a lasting and happy marriage, then we would do well to focus on helping these men find their way to good jobs first. But the idea that successful marriages are attainable only by certain groups today is misguided. Since 2012, divorce rates have been falling for working-class Americans and Black Americans, too—and the share of kids being raised in married families for these two groups has stabilized. (In fact, the proportion of Black children being raised in a married-parent family rose from 33 percent in 2012 to 39 percent in 2024.) And across both class and racial lines, marriage is linked to greater happiness, household earnings, and wealth for women and men. Derek Thompson: America's 'marriage material' shortage In the past, American society has readily advocated for behaviors that can improve lives and reduce social problems—campaigns against smoking and teen pregnancy are two examples. We should at a minimum strive to ensure that young people have an accurate understanding of marriage today, not one that's outdated—and certainly not one supplied by cranks and zealots. Marriage is not for everyone—of course it isn't. But men and women who are flying solo—without a spouse—typically report their lives to be less meaningful and more lonely. The share of unmarried men ages 25 to 55 who say they are unhappy in the General Social Survey more than doubled from the late 1990s to the 2020s. That fact alone highlights just how wrong Andrew Tate is about men and marriage.
Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
30 Must-Have Products Expert Gardeners Love
A seeding-start kit so you can finally sow all those seeds you've been holding onto. This little setup comes with everything you need to start a whole lineup of veggies, herbs, or flowers before sending them out to thrive in your garden. The kit has space for up to 72 seedlings in cells measuring 1.5" x 1.5" x 2" each. Entire tray is 10" x 20" x 5". Recommended for use with a heat mat to promote germination. Once sprouts emerge, use a plant grow light or place near a well-lit review: "As an avid gardener, I've found this kit to be an essential tool for starting seeds and nurturing young plants before transplanting them into the garden. Each cell is sturdy and well-designed, ensuring proper airflow and drainage to promote healthy root development. The included greenhouse dome helps retain moisture and warmth, promoting optimal germination and seedling growth. Incredibly user-friendly, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced gardeners alike. The included growing medium is pre-fertilized and ready to use, eliminating the need for additional soil amendments and saving time during the planting process. Highly recommend." —Blondie16Get it from Amazon for $14.69. A weed-puller tool to easily remove weeds from your garden or lawn. It's the bestselling weeding tool on Amazon, and for good reason! The same family-owned small business has been making these since 1913, and 46,000+ reviewers have given the product 5 stars. A seed and seedling spacer tool that'll show you exactly where to put your seeds. The color-coded square helps you space out seeds just right, so your veggies grow in neat little rows instead of chaotic clumps. Just press into the soil, poke holes with the included dibber, and plant. A pack of Miracle-Gro water-storing crystals to keep your outdoor plants perfectly hydrated, without you having to guess if you're overwatering or underwatering. You mix it in with your regular soil, and the crystals swell to absorb water and then release it later. A pair of breathable bamboo gloves that'll make you feel like a gardening pro. They're breathable, flexible, and grippy enough to keep a solid hold on your tools (or that stubborn weed that refuses to budge). Plus, they're made from bamboo, so your hands stay cool and comfy while you work your backyard magic. Or a pair of gardening gloves with extra-long sleeves so you don't have to stress about poison ivy, thorny branches, or mosquito bites while you're out there doing your thing. Bug season is no joke, so it helps to stay covered. These'll also save your arms if you accidentally brush up against something prickly. A crack weeder tool to make your pathways, driveways, and patios like new again. The uniquely shaped head allows the tool to fit into tight cracks and grab weeds by the roots for easy removal. A 3D-printed spout that'll turn your empty milk jug into a fully functional watering can. It's lightweight, easy to fill at the sink, and a genius little upgrade for anyone trying to green their garden and their habits at the same time. Granny Geeks is a woman-owned small business based in Georgia that makes 3D-printed garden review: "Such a clever item. My hose is hard to use so I can fill a jug in my kitchen sink and still have it water my plants well! I loved it so much, this is my second (one for indoor plants which require distilled water and one for my outdoor plants)!" —MelissaGet it from Granny Geeks for $5.99 (available in five colors). A pack of the 20 most popular vegetable seeds to basically turn your vegetable beds into your own organic produce market. From beets and cucumbers to cabbage and okra, there are enough seeds to grow plenty of produce year round. A Nisaku Hori Hori weeding knife that'll help you dig, weed, and slice through stubborn roots. It has both a straight and serrated edge for tackling different tasks, plus inch markings to help you plant at just the right depth. A vertical planter so you can grow herbs, strawberries, or flowers without giving up your whole patio. Just stack the five tiers, fill with soil, and plant up to 20 things in one tidy, compact tower. A battery-operated 2-in-1 handheld hedge and grass trimmer that'll help you clean up messy garden edges, trim back overgrown shrubs, and neaten up any rogue patches of grass. It comes with two blade attachments you can swap out depending on the job, and it's lightweight enough to use one-handed. A pair of stainless-steel gardening shears for clipping cuttings and deadheading. Folks say they're lightweight and easy to use, and despite their size, can cut through really thick, tough stems. A galvanized steel planter bed for neatly planting all your veggies and fruits. It has an open bottom, which provides good drainage and keeps weeds away from your soil. Promising review: "Pretty straightforward to build. I have 6 of them in my garden and have had them since March 2023. It's now January 2025 and they are still holding up pretty well." —Dylan"For the past 40 years have always had a garden in the ground. So tired of weeds taking over. Decided to try raised beds. Love this. Easy to assemble." —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two sizes). Or a raised garden bed that removes the need for bending or kneeling, preserving your back and knees as you tend to your garden. It's made from Chinese fir, a great wood for outdoor furniture and construction because it doesn't warp out of shape when it gets damp or wet. Promising review: "This is my third raised bed. It is very easy to put together, especially after the third time. It is very sturdy; the one I bought three years ago is still standing tall. I like the drainage holes. I do deep watering, so I never worry about the bed being waterlogged. It is easy to move when it is empty, not so much when it is full of dirt." —AnitaGet it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in three sizes and three finishes). A 21-inch Ryobi self-propelling lawnmower because yard work is way more tolerable when your mower doesn't sound like a helicopter. This one's battery powered-powered (read: quiet), and the charge lasts *forever* — I did both my front and back lawn with juice left over. It's a very worthy investment if you want to maintain a pristine lawn all year long without a lot of effort on your part (self-propelling really is awesome). My house has a lot of lawn: over 3,000 square feet. When we first moved in, I bought a cheap battery-powered mower that could barely handle either the front or the back yard on a single charge. Not ideal. This Ryobi mower is the total opposite. I can mow both the front and back with charge to spare. A "command center" lets you activate turbo mode and lights, and adjust the self-propel speed right from the handle (great for slowing down when you're trying to mow a corner). Turbo mode gives you an extra boost for tough patches, and it comes with a grass catcher bag, though I always keep mine on mulch mode because it's better for the lawn. The handle folds down for easy storage. Bonus: the 40V battery works with over 85 other Ryobi tools, which I love because it means I can expand my collection without collecting a bunch of different batteries. Promising review: "I have about 1,500 sq. ft. yard and I have mowed it four times and the battery is at 50%. It does great on a 25% incline slope. It has so much power that I had to lower it to 50%. Best lawnmower I have ever owned. Highly recommend." —RchoHomeOwner Get it from The Home Depot for $549. A seven-piece garden tool kit if you're new to gardening and want a one-stop shop for all your needs. This kit has a folding stool so you can sit comfortably while you work, and all the tools you'll need for basic gardening tasks. The seven-piece kit includes a weeding fork, cultivator, weeder, transplanter, trowel, folding stool, and tool review: "This stool is extremely convenient. I hate squatting in the garden and flailing around trying to find my tools when I need to dig something up. This has several small pockets for the small tools it comes with, plus a large pocket in the middle where I keep my larger clippers and gloves. Since I have things stored inside now, I don't fold it, but before that, the folding was great because it takes up almost no space in my shed. Can't beat the convenience of using and storing all of these things in one compact package. The tools themselves are decent, too. The shovels are flatter than I am used to, but it has actually come in handy in some areas, like around my stone wall." —MollyGet it from Amazon for $36.99 (available in two colors). A pair of Fiskars 28-inch tree trimmers so you can finally cut back those rogue branches without feeling like you just did CrossFit. They've got power-boosting levers that make it way easier to slice through thicker limbs, and the blades stay sharp and gunk free. Or a pole saw if you're done playing the ladder game every time a tree branch misbehaves. It extends anywhere from nearly 8 feet–27 feet (depending on the model you purchase), letting you trim high limbs from the ground. The sharp, triple-cut blade makes quick work of branches, and the lightweight design won't destroy your arms in the process. A bottle of organic Joyful Dirt concentrated plant food and fertilizer for indoor or outdoor plants that you mix into either soil or the plant's water. Within a few weeks, your plants will look noticeably healthier and taller. Joyful Dirt is a small business based in Portland, Oregon, making organic, all-purpose plant food since review: "We love this stuff. We use it on all of our house plants and our outdoor garden. The indoor plants look better day and night about a week after application. Love that it's all natural too, and don't have to worry about any harmful chemicals. Been using this stuff for about three years now!" —DJ it from Amazon for $22.95. A pack of reusable Velcro garden ties that'll gently keep your plants in the right spot. Use these to secure stems to stakes, trellises, or cages without damaging anything delicate. They're soft, adjustable, and way easier to manage than twist ties or string. A garden dibber to make planting bulbs, sowing seeds, and breaking up clumps of dirt easier than ever — every gardener should have one of these babies! A pack of five heavy-duty fabric grow bags so you can grow big plants with ease. These grow bags use a breathable material, which keeps roots and soil oxygenated and cool throughout the year. Great for developing robust, fibrous root systems that stay healthy without needing regular root pruning. Promising review: "So I'm no plant pot-biologist, but these are awesome. They're durable and strong. The handles are stitched on super well. They are also solid enough to hold the soil and plant with no problem while letting enough oxygen to the roots to create a bigger root ball, leading to bigger plants/yields. Best mesh flower pots by far." —Tom Higgins Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in tan or black and in 10 sizes). A potting bench to turn your backyard into your new favorite workspace. This one will give you a waist-height spot to repot, trim, and admire your plants without hunching over like a Victorian ghost. It'll hold your tools, display your prettiest blooms, and even offer a little shelf for whatever garden project you're working on next. Promising review: "Nothing to dislike about this garden bench. It's not built for heavy-duty gardening, which is what I love about it. There's storage, a drawer, and a little shelf for my supplies. It's a private area for just me to play with my plants and bulbs. Super easy to clean up, too. Love it!!" —AprilGet it from Amazon for $122.99+ (available in three wood finishes; be sure to apply the $12 off coupon when applicable). A smart sprinkler controller that'll take over your yard's watering schedule with actual intelligence. It uses weather data to skip watering when it rains, adjusts automatically with the seasons, and lets you control everything from your phone. You'll get a greener, healthier lawn without wasting water or fiddling with confusing timers. Promising review: "I bought this Rachio 3 because I need remote control of my irrigation system. I did research, and Rachio 3 came to the top of the list. My old one is Hunter, which is ok but not Wi-Fi controllable. Plus, it is hard to schedule different watering schedules at the same time. The Rachio 3 is really smart and very user-friendly. It will skip the water day if rainfall is in the forecast. I wish I bought this unit years ago." —Turning Point Get it from Amazon for $164.99+ (available in two styles). A pack of three rolling plant caddies to make sure you can move your heaviest plants without much effort. Each caddy can hold up to 80 pounds, too, so we're talking about some pretty big plants! An extremely flexible, kink-free garden hose so you can water your yard with ease. It's also way lighter than other hoses — perfect for those of us who don't want to turn watering the garden into a cardio session. Promising review: "This thing is an absolute game changer. I mean, it's heavy-duty yet super lightweight, which is a total win-win. It's like the Hulk of garden hoses: strong and sturdy but easy to handle. I can drag it around my yard without feeling like I'm lugging around a huge snake. It's also a vibrant green color, so it adds a nice pop to my outdoor space. I highly recommend it to all my fellow garden enthusiasts out there. You won't regret it!" —Fouad al MaawdahGet it from Amazon for $14.85+ (available in eight lengths). A garden hose nozzle sprayer with up to eight patterns that'll fit all standard garden hoses. Reviewers love (there are over 16,200 5-star reviews!) the 100% heavy-duty metal handle, and that it can take on jobs as simple as lawn watering all the way up to more complicated ones like muddy dog washing. Promising review: "The double seal where the handle connects to the hose is a high-quality feature. I chose this model because of the lever flow control. As an avid gardener, this is better than the trigger-activated garden hose nozzles." —Ernest it from Amazon for $21.80+ (available with three pattern quantities). A pair of supportive, waterproof clogs if you're always tracking mud into the house after spending time in the garden. When you're done outside you can just wipe 'em down or hose 'em off. And a pair of knee pads for comfortably gardening for hours on end. Gardening is such a wonderful thing, but if your body starts to ache you can soon be in agony. Give these pads a try if you find yourself having to quit gardening before you're ready due to aches and pains.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
I've written about beauty for 5 years — here are 6 products I continue to re-buy
These beauty products are good to the last drop — trust me, I've finished them all. As someone who reviews and writes about products for a living, you would be right to assume that I've tried my fair share of beauty goodies. From dermatologist-recommended anti-aging essentials to products that found their fame on TikTok, I have tried a lot — and I mean a lot — of beauty products. Because my beauty cabinet resembles that of a small but stocked Sephora, I rarely re-buy something once I've finished it. Often, even though I love and truly recommend something, I have 10 more of its kind waiting to be tested, so a product has to be something extra special to warrant a repeat purchase. Finishing a product in earnest is not only a testament to its efficacy, but how often I reach for it in my day-to-day routine. I re-buy so rarely that when I do, it's worth a shout-out. If you keep scrolling, you'll find a list of beauty products that fit the following criteria: A) they're empty or nearly empty and B) I have re-purchased them in the past or am planning to do so in the near future. From my favourite-ever toner to the perfect sunscreen for oily skin, read on to shop my beauty empties.
