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29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Cheap, Low Commitment Hobby
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Skip the expensive pottery class and get this big ole $11 tub of air dry clay instead. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $15.84 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $18.60. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $9.09+ (available in mini and oyster varieties). 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.96 (available in three clay colors). 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $7. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.98! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.59 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $25.49. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Kyle Books Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $14.54 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. Urban Cheesecraft/Etsy UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays and holidays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A Gaiam starter set for yoga complete with all the basics, including a yoga mat, a yoga block, and a stretching strap, so you can tune into free yoga classes you gain access to with the set. Achieving mindfulness and flow in a chaotic world? Bring it om. Promising review:"I am not very limber and I have chronic spine issues, so having a block and strap was essential for me to do yoga. Before using this, I always ended up hurting myself or feeling bad about myself because I couldn't complete the stretches and would just give up. This kit made everything go so smoothly; I can adjust the block or the strap to help me stretch without hurting myself (or falling over). And I highly recommend the sitting techniques in the DVD as well as the meditation." — blightheavy Get it from Amazon for $29.98. 19. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.47. 20. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Amazon, Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $21.24 (available in two colors/styles). 21. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $8.49. 22. A delightfully wacky spin and paint art set that yes, is designed for kids, but will *absolutely* thrill any adult looking to make 2025 their unrepentant colorful chaos era. I'm not NOT saying your kitchen deserves to be revamped in bright rainbow neon splatter colors after you frame these gems .... Promising review: "I'm an adult artist. I got this on a lark to have some fun with it. I think a child would have a lot of fun with it. I've discovered you can use any tempera or acrylic paint (just put some in small squeeze bottles). I'm actually having fun experimenting it." — Lynn Get it from Amazon for $27.40. 23. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in five styles). 24. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 25. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Amazon Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in five other kits). 26. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $27.99. 27. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available as elephants or leopards). 28. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.71. 29. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! Promising review:"I am a 30-year-old calligrapher and was in need of a light box. I needed a light box that fit into my budget and I didn't want to spend too much on one because I wasn't sure how much I would use it. This is by far one of the best purchases to add to my calligraphy arsenal!" — Placeholder Get it from Amazon for $27.29+ (available in two colors). 30. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊"
Buzz Feed
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
32 Fun Things To Buy If You're Feeling Creative
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Just think about how many fun trinkets you can make with the air-dry clay that's all over TikTok right now. 1. The Reverse Coloring Book, a fun way to stretch your mind because instead of coloring in the lines like a traditional coloring book, you add the lines to decide the vibe of the piece. Reviewers love how relaxing this is and say it's quite satisfying to see the end result! Amazon, Each book includes 50 pages of watercolor art for you to add lines, along with suggestions for what to add if you want a jumping off point. B onus: the pages are perforated so you can easily tear them out and frame them! Promising review:"Changed my life. So I get anxious doing the adult coloring books. This was so much fun and made me really think outside of the box. I'm not the best at drawing but I felt like I was when I was a kid doodling in my textbooks in school." — Carley C. Get it from Amazon for $13.49. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 2. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions if you've been thinking, "I should write a book," but have no clue where to start. This gives you fun prompts to write and reflect and it's a great activity for a screen-free night. This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $16.50 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $18.60 (originally $20). 3. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets since seeing your little drawings do their lil' shrinky dance in the oven is just soooo satisfying. You can turn them into jewelry, magnets, and keychains — the possibilities are endless! If you are unfamiliar with this, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $13.49. 4. A "Book Club" reading journal so you can fully reflect, review, and rave about every book that you knocked off your "to be read" list. This has enough room for 80 entries and even includes pages like a reading tracker and a reading list! Amazon Lamare is a Florida-based small business that specializes in planners and journals. Promising review:"I love love LOVE this book journal! I've been looking for one since like last year and this one caught my eye in the beginning of 2023. I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy it and I am so glad I did! I would buy this book journal a million times over, I love it!" — Maddie Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in two styles). 5. A gorgeous pastel paint-by-number that'll make it feel like you're a modern-day Van Gogh without having to actually know how to paint that well. Once you finish your piece, you'll immediately want to order another! Amazon, Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 6. "The Secret Soup" — just another version of the viral Magic Puzzle series that has gone viral on TikTok for its stunning illustrations and the fun, magical twist that reveals itself once the puzzle is complete. There are over 50 Easter eggs in it, and each miniature scene will make you feel like you're going on many adventures as you solve this unique puzzle. Check out a TikTok of the magic puzzle in action. Promising review:"This puzzle was delightful from start to finish. The oddly shaped pieces, the story being told within it, the surprise ending puzzle, the checklist hunt, the mobility of the sections, and the characters and design all gave it — and me! — such life. Regular puzzles tend to bore or frustrate me but each time I worked on this I was full of joy." — Brittany Get it from Amazon for $22.99, and check out the rest of the Magic Puzzle lineup for more options!. 7. A copy of Burn After Writing, which includes some imaginative and thoughtful writing prompts for a fun way to relieve stress and reflect on your past, present, and future. Promising review: "I first saw this book on TikTok and decided to look more into it. I purchased four total because I know some people holding onto things that are difficult to let go of. It's a great way to look at things from a different perspective and truly hold yourself accountable to different things in your life. I love what it stands for and I look forward to when I burn mine after I'm done. Self love, self care, and meditation for a better state of mind tomorrow is always the goal. I definitely recommend it to those susceptible to change and the willingness to try things different." — Brent Helm Get it from Amazon for $7.32. 8. A set of eye-popping fine-point pens that come in so many colors you'll be inspired to draw violet-colored tigers, orange and magenta forests, and all the other colorful creations your doodling heart desires. Plus, these are great for journals or planners since they won't bleed through the paper! Promising review:"I love how this pen feels to hold and it writes beautifully! I am very picky about how the ink looks from the pens I use and I don't remember having one that writes so smoothly and beautifully! I will buy these whenever I need more. I actually just purchased another package of all black!" — Kate Get a set of 18 from Amazon for $7.99. 9. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set sure to make your guests go "ooh" and "ahh" because of how beautifully they shimmer. Cheers to fun coasters and no watermarks on your mom's wood table! This is kind of like paint by numbers, but instead of paint, you have these beautiful tiny crystals that you stick on to the corresponding sections! Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five styles). 10. And a family-friendly punch needle coaster set to give the kids *and* adults something fun to do other than watch yet another episode of Bluey. You can use them as coasters orrrr attach magnets to use them as cute fridge decor! Amazon, This set comes with six patterns, 11 colored yarns, adhesive felt backings, an embroidery hoop, and a punch needle. Promising review:"This was my first time doing punch needling and this kit is perfect for beginner's. It came with plenty of yarn as well. 100 percent would recommend buying this. Was fun to do and entertaining and relaxing." — Sara smith Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in three themed sets). 11. A delightfully wacky spin and paint art set if you don't wanna do a full-on tie-dye project but still want to create some groovy-looking wall art for your home. The splash guard makes for an easy cleanup, and you'll be singing 🎶 you spin me right round, baby, right round 🎶 in no time. This set includes the Spin Art Machine, a splatter guard, five bottles of paints, four white crayons, and 20 pieces of paper. Promising review: "I'm an adult artist. I got this on a lark to have some fun with it. I think a child would have a lot of fun with it. I've discovered you can use any tempera or acrylic paint (just put some in small squeeze bottles). I'm actually having fun experimenting it." — Lynn Get it from Amazon for $19.97+ (available in two versions). 12. A set of cat-themed tarot cards that comes with a guidebook, making it a perfect beginner-fuurriendly way to dip your toe into tarot. I'm getting a sense that these need to be added to your cart immediately! Promising review:"I'm new to tarot, so I grabbed some cute looking cards that promised a guidebook. I love the artwork that the artist has done and I like their take on some of the cards. Helps the meaning stick a bit more (at least in my semi cat obsessed mind). All the cards have a lot of detail to them. I've shown three major arcana and four minor arcana cards that have come up in my readings and the cards made it easy to 'get it' when I read the meanings and have studied the card meanings outside of this guide book. Would definitely recommend for the artwork alone and as a good starter deck for anyone interested in learning tarot." — Averey Get it from Amazon for $17.45. 13. A beginner's guide to calligraphy to give you a ~helping hand~ on your hand lettering skills. You'll love this so much that you'll want to label every single item in your house and write handwritten letters to all your friends! Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice artwork/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $20.58. 14. A wine coloring book that combines your love of cabernet and coloring for a perfect Friday night in. This has 32 pages of funny wine-related sayings and illustrations, so now you have 32 excuses for why you can't go out. Amazon Bonus: it comes with colored pencils included! Promising review:"Very cute, sayings were accurate and funny. Pictures provided a lot of variety from simple to more complex, and provide plenty of stress relief while watching a movie and coloring and drinking wine of course." — Tegyn Dustin Get it from Amazon for $11.95. 15. A teensy DIY cheese kit so you can make four batches of ricotta and farmers' cheese. Pair this with some wine and crackers, and BAM, you've got some yummy homemade cheese that only took you a half hour to make. Urban Cheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner Get it from Urban Cheesecraft on Etsy for $16.50 (originally $22). 16. Or Small Batch Bakes, perfect for those who just want a sweet treat without the hassle of converting those "serves 24–36" recipes into smaller batch sizes. You can flip through these delicious recipes meant for one to six people and satisfy your sweet tooth. Kyle Books This has recipes for sweet *and* savory items like: everything bagel morning buns, a singular chocolate chip cookie, English muffins, and Snickerdoodle cheesecake bars! Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $15.33 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 17. Wreck This Journal — it'll be a canvas for your imaginative and creative mind. This has space for you to write, paint, and "destroy" the pages making you feel the true inner workings of an artist. Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $14.88. 18. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults because it gives you something fun to do with your hands other than eat junk food as Netflix asks you for the third time, "Are you still watching?" Amazon Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 17 different patterns). 19. A pack of mini rainbow scratch art notes that you used to love as a kid, and you'll be sure to love as an adult because that's nostalgia babyyyy. And yes, you should still use one of these to scratch off the ENTIRE black stuff to reveal the whole rainbow background. Promising review:"I love this little scratch art pad. Sometimes I just need a break and a little distraction to let my brain breathe so I pull this out and make all sorts of designs. You do get a little of a mess by scratching the black off but I usually have a big mess cause I end up scratching the whole thing off. Can't help it. Kid at heart, I guess." — Jane Get a pack of 125 notes from Amazon for $11.69 (available in two styles). 20. A beginner's sushi-making kit because those DoorDash delivery fees are starting to make you think, "What if I just do it myself?" This will make sushi date night way more interactive, and you'll be able to customize your roll just the way you like! Each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 21. A game of "Bards Against Profanity," — RIP Shakespeare, he would've loved this game. For thou art a fool if this be not added to thy cart. Amazon You basically play the same way you'd play Apples To Apples or Cards Against Humanity — someone puts down a prompt scenario card, and players complete with the insult cards to fill the prompts to see whose is the funniest. Whoever wins the most scenarios wins the game. Four or more players are required. Promising review:"THIS GAME IS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO ENJOY, whether you know anything about Shakespeare or not — it makes no difference. I had no idea how much wit, and how much 'inappropriate' language, is in his plays. It's extremely easy to learn so you aren't wasting time reading instructions. In fact, the very brief instructions say to just play until you get bored ;-) Nothing serious about this game." — Long Beach Native Get it from Amazon for $31.95. 22. A beeswax candle kit so your friends can ~wax poetic~ when they find out that you made the candles yourself instead of buying them at Bath and Body Works. Each set comes with materials to make eight candles, including a melting pot, six bags of beeswax, eight containers with lids, six scents, 10 cotton wicks, eight dye blocks, glue dots, labels, stirring sticks, wick clippers, a storage bag, a thermometer, and a user manual. Promising review:"I purchased this kit because I always wanted to make my own candles. This candle making kit looked like it had everything I needed and it definitely does. I am so pleased with it that I will be buying more scented oils and wax so that I can make candles as gifts this holiday season. It's a very nice kit." — Tracie Craig Get it from Amazon for $49.99. 23. A beginner's butter churner that'll let you create whatever type of butter your heart desires. We're talking apple butter, garlic butter... even cinnamon butter! In as little as 10 minutes, you can make deeeelicious homemade butter right at home. Promising review:"I am delighted with this product. The accompanying instructions were very helpful. I made my first hand-churned butter, which I consider being a homage to my grandparents, who were dairy farmers. The process is really surprising when the butter seizes up — I think it was very important to me to see and experience that moment. Subtle, but crucial... At any rate, I used it, cleaned it, so have experienced both. I don't think you'll be disappointed with this little yet sophisticated butter churn." — Nanci Hamilton Get it from Amazon for $45. 24. An unofficial Disney Parks cookbook since a trip to Disney isn't really in the budget every time you're craving a Mickey beignet or the Mickey raspberry macaron (iykyk). Promising review:"Beautiful hardcover cookbook with so many yummy Disney recipes from the parks! There is lots of Disney foodie history in it, plus recipes that look easy to follow with high quality ingredients. There are fun maps of each of the parks inside where the food is located from, which makes it fun. As an avid Disney fan I have never seen a cookbook like this." — Nicole Get it from Amazon for $14.77. 25. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay because those pottery videos have got a chokehold on you but you don't trust yourself on the wheel. This is great for hand-building and will dry out, so you can paint it after. The world is your clayground, so go and get creating! Btw, a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but i feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.62. 26. A paint-by-sticker set where you can recreate vintage travel posters and display them for everyone to see. Who knows, out of all the hobbies that you try... this one might just be the one that sticks! Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.23 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 27. A set of miniature moon and star crystals that'll give you a reason to prioritize mindfulness in your life. The set comes with explanation cards for each stone and how you can utilize each one in its own unique way. Promising review: "This product was a gift to my tween daughter who asked for 'crystals' on her X-mas list. Since she's a beginner in crystals, I decided to get her a NICE but simple set of GENUINE STONES. Which this set IS, and the price is amazingly low for this product! This set is a VERY good value for the money, a lovely starter crystal set, and a pretty gift set for anyone interested in having colorful random pretties in their home or office space." — A.J. Get a set of 14 from Amazon for $10.99. 28. A friendship bracelet-making kit to bring you back to the good ol' days when you used to go to summer camp. This bad boy is sure to be your new BFF because you'll wanna make so many bracelets now. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we can work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in six colors). 29. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions so you can ~mix~ things up a bit and learn how to be your own at-home bartender. This teaches you how to make the six classic cocktails (the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip), and it shows you how you can add fun twists with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 30. Plus, a shaker of edible cocktail glitter because life is too short not to have a sparkly glass of rosé (or lemonade if you're in your sober curious era). Reviewers love having this when they are throwing a party, and say a little goes a long way! Bakel is a small business established in 2016 that specializes in edible glitters for food and drink. Promising review:"Don't think any further and just buy it. This was so cool and everyone loved it! I got the clear one because it will go with any drink. I will be the one to put this in all my friends drinks. Also had no taste so it was just the look. Sooooooo cool!" — gigi Get it from Amazon for $8.94+ (available in 13 colors). 31. A string art kit since scrolling through Pinterest has sparked a new sense of creativity for you (and your home decor). This kit comes with everything you need, and the finished product will add some texture to your collection of bedroom wall art. Amazon The kit comes with a crafting board, small hammer, a holder, nails, glue, screws, cotton string, a frame, a pattern, and a detailed instruction manual, so there's no need to buy other supplies. Promising review:"These instructions are easy to follow — I finished it in two hours. This was so much fun and I love my finished results! It looks so beautiful. It was a gift for my friend. I would buy it again and recommend it to others." — yuyantan Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in eight styles). 32. A starter's weaving kit because you're in your grandma crafting era and you aren't mad about it. This has everything you need to make a cozy little tapestry for your room and comes in so many color variations so one is sure to match your aesthetic. Wool Couture Company Wool Couture Company is a UK-based Etsy shop established in 2014 that specializes in knitting, crochet, weaving, and macrame craft kits. The Quintessential Kit comes with: a loom, two weaving needles, merino wool for weaving, instructions, a mounting bar for hanging, and a cotton ball of warp to hold your work. Promising review:"It's simple to use, the wool I received in the set is of a high quality and the service was smooth and communicative. Can not recommend this highly enough from a first-time weaver." — DivineDerbyshire Get it from Wool Couture Company on Etsy for $64.53 (available in eight styles). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
30 Products For Anyone Who Wants A Hobby That Won't Break Their Budget
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · You'll be making a family of little crocheted critters with this starter kit in no time. 1. A copy of The Book of Myself: A Do-It-Yourself Autobiography in 201 Questions to give you just enough structure so you're actually motivated to sit down and write in a journal. This is an excellent way to preserve memories for yourself and loved ones! This book is a kind of DIY memoir — it goes through three phases of "Early," "Middle," and "Later" years, and has 201 different prompts based on your memories, experiences, and views on the world. Prompts include things like what you would have switched careers to midway through if given the chance, or a present you got from your parents that sticks in your memory, or who you think the funniest person in your family is. This also makes for a lovely gift for family members, so you can all preserve each other's memories! Get it from Amazon for $16.50 or from Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $18.60. 2. A mushroom growing kit that grows right there in the packaging, so you can add some sweet, sweet umami flavors to all your favorite winter dishes by sautéing, roasting, or air frying them up. Back To The Roots is a California-based small business founded by two college friends that specializes in indoor gardening kits with a mission to reconnect families to food. Check out a TikTok of the mushroom kit in action. Promising review:"This product has been so much fun to watch! I followed the directions, exactly as written, and the mushrooms began growing within 3–4 days. I will say that I did soak them for close to 10 hours before putting them back in the box to grow and I believe this helped a ton. I also kept the box inside by a window with the blinds closed in order for them to get indirect sunlight. The mushrooms grew tremendously for almost a week before they started to shrink so I clipped them to cook with and they were DELICIOUS! This was such a fun product and process to watch." — Steph A Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 3. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.62. 4. A beginner's guide to calligraphy that is far more thorough and specific about technique and ink types than other versions, and will have you writing inspirational messages to your friends and drafting fancy invitations to your dog's birthday party in NO time. Paper Peony Press is a Texas-based boutique publishing company that specializes in purpose-driven books. Promising review:"I've tried several instructional books on hand lettering. This book is the best by far. I won't say the names of the other books, but suffice it to say they are all at the top of the list when you search for hand lettering. It is the only book that gives practice for the base strokes and also discusses posture and how to hold the pen, and at what angle to the paper. It is also a lovely book to work with; nice art work/illustrations. I recommend this book to other beginners out there!" — Karen Rorick Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 5. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathong yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby 6. A "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower. For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action. Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt Get it from Amazon for $8.29. (Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!) 7. And a stress relief flower coloring book for adults so instead of trying to outrun your problems, you can out- color them, and have a bunch of darling pieces of art to show for it. Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $11.98! Promising review:"Great stress reliever. Stimulates my creativity. I have taken pictures of what I colored and have made it my wall paper for my cellphone. Very glad I made this purchase." — Dawn62 Get it from Amazon for $7.39. 8. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything." Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through. Get it from Amazon for $9.19 or Bookshop for $14.88. 9. A compact, beginner-friendly watercolor palette that comes with everything you need to start creating your own masterpieces, including 100 (!!) colors to choose from. Next stop, the Louvre. Each set comes with a 100-color palette, a sketch pencil, a sponge, a swatch sheet, and three water brush pens. Promising review:"Love collecting watercolor sets, and this one is amazing — so many exquisite colors to paint with. Creativity is everything, and imagination with all these colors is unlimited. Pure happiness!" — pve Get it from Amazon for $39.99. 10. Or a gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 12 styles). 11. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $16.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 12. A sturdy, minimalist reading journal with such a comprehensive, satisfying design that you'll never bother with another again — this features space for 52 thorough book reviews, along with challenges and lists for Books I've Read, Finished, Favorites, Did Not Finish, Lent, and Borrowed. Kunitsa Co. is a small business that specializes in reading, exercise, and food journals. Promising review:"Very cute and fun way to track reading. I feel like it also motivates me to read because I have a written goal. I like being able to keep track of what books I read and when so I can remember to reread or recommend my favorites." — Jenna Borden Get it from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in six colors). 13. A compact, travel-friendly microwave flower press kit so you can preserve the beauty of the flowers you find on your adventures no matter where you roam, and keep them in a little flower press journal to admire. This is unique from other methods because the microwave makes it a minutes-long process instead of days, and helps preserve the vibrant colors! Microfleur is a small business that specializes in unique flower-pressing products. Promising review: "Such a unique and easy-to-use product. I preserve dried flowers in resin, and this has been such a time saver. In literally minutes, you have a perfectly preserved flower. I've never had any burned or overcooked flowers doing it this way and it definitely beats pressing them in a book. I can't wait to buy these as gifts for a few other plant lovers in my life." — Jessie Get it from Amazon for $36.99. 14. A teensy DIY cheese kit with everything you need to learn to make four batches of farmer's cheese and live your most delicious life in a half hour. UrbanCheesecraft is an Oregon-based Etsy shop established in 2009 that specializes in make-your-own cheese kits in a variety of cheeses, including vegan options. Each kit comes with a cheesecloth, citric acid, flake salt, instructions, and "email support for life" — all you need is milk (and a mouth to consume it all). Promising review:"These kits are great gifts for the cheese lover and the person 'who's already got it all.' The packaging looks nice and gift-worthy and it's a perfect price range. I love that the recipient gets an experience as well as a tangible product and I can personally attest that the actual process is easy." — amyleannbohner 15. A paint-by-sticker set made up of vintage travel posters you can hang up on your walls when you're finished, essentially letting you travel the world without getting up from ye olde couch. Workman Publishing Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including iconic travel posters from gondolas in Venice to the pyramids in Cairo. Get it from Amazon for $11.89 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $15.80. 16. A beginner-friendly diamond painting coaster set perfect for anyone who has ever thought to themselves, "You know what the only thing better than cat coasters would be? Glittery cat coasters." The universe has delivered. Promising review:"The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." — PackLeaderJ Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five styles). 17. And a DIY glass mosaic tile coaster kit to let you mix and match beautiful colors that go with your home's ~aesthetic~, plus unlock a cool new skill that will make you a VERY popular gift-giver on birthdays and holidays. Each set comes with enough materials to make four coasters. Promising review:"This is a very fun hobby to do at home both by yourself or with friends or family. It's fun and pretty simple to make. Just need to be very steady with your hands and take time. I received many compliments when I showed them to everyone. I might buy more later and do it again. I totally recommend it if you want a little hobby to do." — Lilylove75 Get it from Amazon for $22.99. 18. A Gaiam starter set for yoga complete with all the basics, including a yoga mat, a yoga block, and a stretching strap, so you can tune into free yoga classes you gain access to with the set. Achieving mindfulness and flow in a chaotic world? Bring it om. Promising review:"I am not very limber and I have chronic spine issues, so having a block and strap was essential for me to do yoga. Before using this, I always ended up hurting myself or feeling bad about myself because I couldn't complete the stretches and would just give up. This kit made everything go so smoothly; I can adjust the block or the strap to help me stretch without hurting myself (or falling over). And I highly recommend the sitting techniques in the DVD as well as the meditation." — blightheavy Get it from Amazon for $29.98. 19. A set of Shrinky Dinks sheets to transport you so immediately to your childhood pastime of Making Everything Very Small that you'll be gifting every single person you know a kitschy keychain against their will. Amazon If you are unfamiliar with this glorious witchcraft, Shrinky Dink paper lets you color designs on it that you can then cut out and bake to shrink them down, giving them a stained glass effect that makes them great for keychains, suncatchers, and little trinkets. Promising review: "Fun for ALL ages! Recently remembered how fun these were. I have a smaller daughter, so it gave me an excuse to buy these. They're secretly for me — half kidding. These are so simple to use and create great crafts. These will keep your little one's imagination going, occupied and helps practice fine motor skills. I would definitely recommend to ANYONE, not just little humans." — Alex Soper Get a 25-sheet set from Amazon for $17.98. 20. A unicorn slime making kit, because truly the most universal human experience is that deep down inside we all just want to stretch out a big ole glop of bright pink glittery slime. Each kit comes with clear written instructions and access to video tutorials to make over 100 different kinds of slime, from unicorn slime to glitter slime to fluffy cloud slime to floam putty. You can personalize the colors, textures, add-ins, *and* the smell — the box comes with beads, scents, glitter, ink, foam balls, the ingredients needed to make the slime, and containers to keep it in. Promising review:"Purchased for daughter's birthday. She loves it. I was very apprehensive about letting her use slime but it has everything a parent could dream of to keep it all in one place and organized without the mess!" — Jay Get it from Amazon for $28.99. 21. A beginner's sushi-making kit to let you take the fate of your rolls into your own hands by working with whatever ingredients you have on hand, so you can have hours of delicious sushi experimentation. I'm definitely going to sushi jail for this, but I've started putting peanut butter in my avocado rolls (and sometimes adding this beloved truffle powder you can get on Amazon, it's so good I don't know what I HAVEN'T put it on!!!). Don't knock it until you try it. Anyway, each kit comes with two sushi rolling mats, five pairs of chopsticks, a paddle, a spreader, and a PDF of instructions, including recipes for six popular rolls. Promising review:"The entire Bamboo Sushi Kit is absolutely well made, easy to use, easy to clean, high-end restaurant quality, and durable. it was very nicely packaged, and instructions clear, in-depth and very easy to follow. No one (myself included) in my household has ever made sushi before but (thanks to the enclosed instructions), there were no issues making it. My daughter did an awesome job utilizing these products to make 'FISH-FREE SUSHI' with Pickled Ginger on top, was delectable! Loooooove it!" — Liza Get it from Amazon for $9.99. 22. A delightfully wacky spin and paint art set that yes, is designed for kids, but will *absolutely* thrill any adult looking to make 2025 their unrepentant colorful chaos era. I'm not NOT saying your kitchen deserves to be revamped in bright rainbow neon splatter colors after you frame these gems .... Promising review: "I'm an adult artist. I got this on a lark to have some fun with it. I think a child would have a lot of fun with it. I've discovered you can use any tempera or acrylic paint (just put some in small squeeze bottles). I'm actually having fun experimenting it." — Lynn 23. A friendship bracelet making kit so you can live your best Babysitter's Club life and start sending them in personalized colors to everyone you know. Choose Friendship is a small business that specializes in friendship bracelet makers. Each set comes with the holder mount and 20 pre-cut threads in 10 colors as well as access to an online instruction manual for all kinds of different designs. Promising review:"I bought this for my daughter for a craft night. I made friendship bracelets when I was a kid but could not remember how to make them. This helped so much! I had to buy another one for me so we could work on them at the same time. Love this product!" — hollyhock Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five styles). 24. Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions, a bartender-beloved book for beginner- to intermediate-level cocktail enthusiasts that breaks down six iconic "root" cocktails — the old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip — to show you how to improvise and riff your own creations based on what combos work with the ingredients you have. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action. Promising review:"This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge and would recommend to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages is full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana Get it from Amazon for $19.12. 25. A succulent monster needle felting kit that beginners especially love because there's no "wrong" way to make one of these little gremlins. Which is good, because you're about to be dealing with four or more of them, if you buy this kit. Woolbuddy is a small business that specializes in felting kits. Promising review:"I was really excited when I got this kit. It comes with all the tools you need, including a variety of colors, and it inspires such fun creature ideas! It also includes a QR code that takes you to several (short) tutorials for different shapes, and teaches you the basics of needle felting! I thought it was going to be much harder than it was. (You don't even need to watch the whole tutorial to pick it up.) I actually bought the same kit for a friend, who loved it also!" — David Get it from Amazon for $24.99. 26. A beginner's wood carving kit to get you started on an oh-so-satisfying, soothing hobby, so you can start gifting your loved ones with carved bluejays and cardinals in no time. Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper. Promising review:"The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." — Sam Get it from Amazon for $38.93. 27. A crochet starter kit with clear, easy instructional videos to make two new tiny friends, because you can never have too many "coworkers" on your desk cheering you on. Promising review: "Great for beginners. I loved the YouTube step-by-step. I wouldn't have done it without that. Such a fun result. Super easy to figure out because of the videos." — Rachel Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available as elephants or leopards). 28. An origami starter kit so easy to use that it's perfect for kids *and* adults, guiding you through 38 different fun projects with clear, straightforward instructions and images. It even comes with high-quality origami paper to get you started! Amazon, Promising review: "This is everything you could want for an introduction to the art of origami! It has clear instructions, a variety of options and paper too! This has been an entertainment piece for the family for a few nights, as the kids want to try new projects each time. Fun for all!" — Bookbum Get it from Amazon for $12.49. 29. A light-up tracing pad for kids and adults alike — this lets you easily recreate illustrations so you can either practice to find your own style, or color them in to make your own *custom* versions. Some reviewers even use this as an easy way to practice calligraphy! Promising review:"I am a 30-year-old calligrapher and was in need of a light box. I needed a light box that fit into my budget and I didn't want to spend too much on one because I wasn't sure how much I would use it. This is by far one of the best purchases to add to my calligraphy arsenal!" — Placeholder Get it from Amazon for $25.99. 30. A DIY purse-making kit so the next time someone stops you on the street to ask where you got your bag, you can be like, "Oh this lil' thing? I made it myself.😊" Beablinger is a small business that specializes in DIY projects. Promising review: "I loved putting this purse together! It was so much fun! The final product looks exactly like the picture. As a beginner, the instruction video on YouTube was very easy for me to follow. I would buy this again in a heartbeat!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.88 (available in seven colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Buzz Feed
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
If You Turn Into An Antisocial Gremlin On Days Off, These 33 Products Will Help You Thrive In Your Solitude
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. Shopping · Cute of your loved ones to think they stand a chance against these self-heating foot masks and mini pumpkin waffle maker. 1. A set of delightfully ~~tingly~~ self-heating soothing foot masks made with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint perfect for anyone whose recent step count is "too many." Nothing like a lil' self-care on those aching feet to lift your spirits! Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. I'm a long-ish distance runner, and these were certainly an interesting experience for my feet! You slide them on and, after a few minutes, feel a tingling, mildly burning (in a good way) sensation. It doesn't quite numb your feet, but it relaxes them. I kept them on for 30 minutes and then toweled my feet off, and the tingling sensation slowly faded over the next 30 minutes. After that, my feet felt very refreshed and relaxed at a time of day when they're usually aching from all the miles I put in. The whole thing was a mess-free, easy process, and I will definitely keep them on hand for longer run days! Promising review:"Very soothing. My husband and l used these on our European vacation, and they definitely felt good on our feet!" — KS2018 Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $14.67. 2. A "Spooky Cutie" adult coloring book for anyone who likes their rest and relaxation with a healthy dose of 👻👻👻. Amazon, Psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon for $9.99! Promising review: "I LOOOOOVE this coloring book! So many cute pages and perfect for spooky season. If you love Halloween and coloring cute images, then this is the book for you. Has a variety of pages and all have the perfect thick lines we all love in coloring books! Add to your cart now!" — Sagrario Get it from Amazon for $7.99. 3. Small Batch Bakes, tailor made for folks who live alone *or* for people who want to broaden their baking horizons, but don't want to deal with the mess of big batches (or the leftovers!). This book takes you through a bunch of delicious recipes for one to six people using minimal equipment, so you can have hassle-free treats and live your most delicious life. Helpfully, this book measures in grams *and* tablespoons, so you can bake however you prefer. Get it from Amazon for $16.19 or Bookshop (to support local bookstores) for $23.24. 4. A pair of cozy wireless over-the-ear headphones designed to look like AirPods Max, so you can still enjoy the comfort and chic style of their iconic headphones without shelling out hundreds of dollars. These feature premium cushion padding, a built-in mic with the ability to take calls, 10 hours of playtime per charge, and surprisingly decent noise blocking for the price. iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories. Promising review: "They're comfortable, hold a charge really well, and actually work really well in terms of noise cancellation. My daughter can be sitting next to me talking and I can barely even hear her. I almost prefer these in terms of sound quality to my Gen 1 AirPods as well. Easy to charge, easy to pair, very lightweight, and fit is adjustable. I'm very impressed with these headphones!" — Samantha H. Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in five colors). 5. A gaming/reading/laptop pillow to prop your hands up while you're playing video games, typing, or reading on your Kindle or iPad from bed. This supports your arms for a more ~ergonomically-friendly~ experience, and even features a lil' side pocket for things like remote controls, glasses, and — of course — emergency snacky snacks. Promising review:"I work from home a few days a week, and every once in a while, my work extends into the evening hours. I have a home office, but sitting at my desk all day is sometimes very tiring. I purchased this big memory foam desk pillow so that I can relax on my couch and still put my laptop up and have a comfortable working area. This pillow is big but very comfortable. It has armrests that wrap around your sides, and they also have little pockets for random things like your cell phone or the remote. It's so nice to just lean back into my comfortable couch and have this big soft desk in front of me." — Jenn Butterfield Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in three styles). 6. A weighted eye mask that's basically like a weighted blanket for your human eyes, designed to decrease stress and encourage ~deep sleep~. They also feature a 3D contour, so they're hollowed out in the middle and won't rest right on top of your eyes. Amazon Promising review: "Love these. These are soft and very comfortable, and they seriously black out every bit of ligh t. I love them. I would highly recommend. I'll probably never sleep without them again." — AJ Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in seven sets). 7. A " Grievance Journal," or rather a "burn book for the discerning misanthrope" — a darkly funny, satisfying, and cathartic journal with 52 prompts so you can purge yourself of the ~~darkness~~ of your daily irritations and inconveniences without alarming all your friends and neighbors. (Well, any more than you already do 😈.) Amazon Promising review: "Bought this intending to gift it to a friend but ended up getting really into the prompts and decided to keep it for myself. WOW, what an awesome way to vent and articulate the negativity you're feeling by actually forcing yourself to form coherent thoughts around your emotions. Cheaper and more effective than therapy, buying several more for friends and fam." — Alex Get it from Amazon for $27.99. 8. A rapid-heating mini pumpkin waffle maker that already has a lot of audacity for cooking up waffles this cute, let alone doing it in mere *minutes*. Bonus: this lil' nonstick gadget is so versatile that you can use all kinds of mixes in it, from protein pancakes to brownies to hashbrowns you want to make extra crispy! Amazon, Promising review:"This thing is incredible. I just mix up a batch of waffle batter and keep it in the fridge and in the morning, I plug this in while pouring my coffee. It reaches temp in about a minute, and then I'll pour in the batter and about the waffle is done about another minute later." — Rick Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in 22 styles). 9. A lightweight adjustable pillow phone stand to instantly turn any bed, couch, or chair into your own personal movie theater. Reviewers love this as an alternative to holding their phones up manually or trying to prop their phones on tables at an uncomfortable lounging angle. Amazon Promising review:"I watch/use my phone often when lying in bed. I'll watch a movie or do social media to try and relax. I put this guy on my belly and adjusted the phone arm. It works SO WELL!!! I don't have to get a cramp in my hand from holding my phone. The device is accessible, so I can push all the phone buttons. This has got to be one of the most used and useful items I have ever purchased! Hours of use. Durable. BUY THIS!" — Big Rudy Get it from Amazon for $44.99+ (available in three colors and two styles, including one that fits a tablet). 10. And a stable, fully adjustable tablet floor stand reviewers LOVE for holding Kindles, iPads, and even phones upright, making it super easy to read, stream content, or even FaceTime with friends and family hands-free. This little gizmo is about to become your Emotional Support Reading Buddy. Promising review: "It works great! It is worth a lot more to me than I paid. It leans forward in many ways and you can turn your device to the direction you are sitting. It has a small footprint next to my chair and next to my couch. I read my Kindle Scribe, use my IPad Pro, and occasionally I will put my phone in it. It is just right and the build is solid. I thought it would be lighter and easy to tip over, but the base keeps it standing up wherever I want to use it. Excellent job!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $69.99+ (available in two styles). 11. A Lego lotus flower building kit so you can build yourself a dainty little bouquet and then sit back and admire them as decor for however long you please, no flower food or pruning required. Promising review: "I bought this lotus flower set for myself and it only took me a little while to make it. Each stem with flower is bagged separately, making it easy to put together. You can make the stem as long or short as you want. The leaves on the two open flowers have bendable hinged leaves so you can make them look more realistic. They look cute in a vase, and I'm very pleased with the results." — Happy Amazoner Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two styles). 12. A 5-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay to let you finally follow your inner pottery dreams without all the mess and effort of taking classes. After you pull the clay out to shape it, it'll harden on its own — no oven or any effort required! From there you can leave it as is or paint over it for a fun vibe. Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes! Promising review: "It's honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It's definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that's a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $10.62. 13. A gorgeous mirror glass tray you can use to serve yourself meals, snacks, and fancy drinks like your own personal butler. This one gets bonus points for also being a *lovely* focal point for your decor. Wayfair Promising review: "It is a lovely tray and works great on the ottoman for serving or displaying trinkets. Definitely recommend." — Wayfair Customer Get it from Wayfair for $48.99 (available in three styles). 14. And a"Cup Cozy Pillow" to keep everything steady on your bed when you are one silly little beverage away from accidentally turning your bed into a LaCroix swamp. This will not only keep all your "bed rot" accessories upright and on hand, but has expandable cup holes to fit mugs, water bottles, and snacks, with an insulating foam that keeps drinks hot or cold for longer periods. Cup Cozy Pillow is a small business that specializes in family-friendly snack and drink organizers. Check out a TikTok of the Cup Cozy Deluxe Pillow in action. Promising review:"This thing is great! I'm home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with dogs running around. It's a little more expensive than I would have liked but it works and I love it so money well spent!" — Amber Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in three styles and nine patterns). 15. A beginner's embroidery kit for adults, so you can have something soothing to do with your hands while you marathon yet another podcast full of murder, murder, and a side murder. (At least now your stitching will be tighter than the main suspect's alibi!) Each kit comes with a simple design, a cotton cloth, a bamboo embroidery hoop, a little scissor, colored threads, embroidery needles, and instructions, so you should be raring to go when it arrives! Promising review:"I've never done anything like this before ... but I like to try new things, and I've just recently moved and wanted to decorate my house with some handmade decor. This kit is a great value for the price! It came with the hoop, more than enough thread, and two needles! The printed pattern is very clear and easy to follow, and the little sheet of instructions on what stitch to use and how to do it is clear enough (and anything I don't understand, I just watch a tutorial on YouTube). I'm about three hours into the project already, and I didn't want to put it down last night." — Abby Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in 11 different patterns). 16. A gorgeous pastel paint-by-number you can get in all kinds of intricate, deeply satisfying patterns for anyone who is looking for an activity that pairs perfectly with a screen-free night in. Each set comes with a detailed numbered outline, four brushes, and a set of numbered acrylic paints with extra to spare. Promising review: "Colorful and fun! This is the third paint-by-number I've done, and by far the most challenging. Lots of fine point detail, and the paint brushes included were adequate, unlike other PBN sets I've bought." — Emily cox Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 12 styles). 17. A decorative rainbow window film that says, "Yes, I want my privacy, but I also want to be extremely glamorous about it." Not only does this refract beautiful rainbows to turn your space into a calm, colorful oasis, but reviewers mention that it's handy for pet owners whose dogs love to bark at things outside. Promising review:"I actually did not know anything like this existed. I was watching TikTok and saw someone use it to allow the light to shine in without people being able to stare into their home. So I decided to give it a try, and am so glad I did. It is beautiful. I currently have it on a small window, and the difference it makes as opposed to aluminum foil is amazing. Plus, if you like a little light but not an over-abundant amount, this is the stuff to use. Very easy to put up, very happy with my purchase." — Eva Thomas Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 12 sizes) 18. A lightweight, expandable bamboo bathtub caddy to turn your boring bathroom into a veritable spa. Pinot? Poured. Candle? Lit. Netflix? Queued. Now, all you have to do is calmly explain to their loved ones that you live in a tub now. Bambusi is a small business that specializes in quality made home products. Promising review:"Surprisingly sturdy and well made. Assembly and construction is excellent, and the accessories are quite clever. On balance, the tray is impressive and well worth its cost. A thoughtful gift, especially for anyone who likes to relax in the tub, but not without their accessories and a glass of wine." — Barry Get it from Amazon for $32.99 (available in five colors). 19. And a bath overflow drain cover so you can finally get the luxurious, full-to-the-brim bath soak you deserve without listening to that disappointing wurgity-gurgle as the tub sucks down all that lovely hot water back down the drain. Amazon SlipX Solutions is a small business that specializes in safety-oriented shower and bath accessories. Promising review:"I have a high-stress job, and I've started taking baths as a way to unwind. However, it never seemed like I could keep enough water in the tub to really enjoy it. This little thing makes a HUGE difference!! I get at least an extra 3 inches of water and it is great." — Hyacinthe Snyder Get it from Amazon for $8.99 (available in nine colors). 20. A book tracker bookmark you'll especially love to help motivate you to keep up on your cozy winter reading by filling up the adorable lil' shelves. British Book Art is a UK-based Etsy shop established in 2021 that specializes in tracker bookmarks and book art. Promising review:"Absolutely love my bookmark! So, so cute! Already made a start coloring in the books and writing the names on the spines!" — Chloe Get it from British Book Art on Etsy for $4.48. 21. A PopLite personal popcorn maker with a built-in serving bowl that will give you eight cups of movie theater-quality popcorn in two mere mortal minutes. Reviewers especially love that the popcorn doesn't burn, and the machine doesn't leave unpopped kernels like the usual microwave brands. Check out a TikTok of the popcorn maker in action. Promising review: " This little popcorn popper is perfect! No fuss, no mess, no chasing popcorn kernels!! Fabulous! Easy to use — the popcorn maker part fits into the bowl part for easy storage. This is one perfect unit!" — Chrystal Get it from Amazon for $34.99. 22. And a cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt anyone in the movie theater industry will tell you is a perfect copycat for that oh-so-savory buttery goodness you love to inhale before the previews begin. Not to be dramatic about popcorn on main, but this stuff is game changing. Our family unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm. Promising review:"I am a person who will make myself sick eating buckets of popcorn (I have no self control). This has by far been my favorite 'TikTok made me buy' item. My at-home popcorn is now my favorite thing to make and I don't need to go the theater for popcorn. Very much worth the purchase and this will last me such a long time." — S Martinez Get it from Amazon for $9.75 (available in two other flavors). 23. And an investment-worthy handmade chunky knit throw blanket so sophisticated and cuddly that you'll be astounded by how much it elevates both the room *and* your need for a cat nap. Wayfair Promising review: "I ordered this in yellow and it was beautiful! The size is perfect. I am using it at the end of a bed and it makes the room look so fancy and comfy. Definitely chunky and well made. I need to order more in different colors. Great price. I couldn't have made it myself for less." — Zachary Get it from Wayfair for $76.99 (originally $114.99; available in nine colors). 24. A guided visual "breathing partner" you can use for meditation and calm to shift your mindset. This is designed to guide you through either the popular 4/7/8 or 5/5 "calming breaths" to help reduce stress and anxiety, using colors that fade in and out softly as cues. Bonus: it's kid-friendly! Mindset is a small business that specializes in calming personal care and decor products. Promising review:"I started meditating over a decade ago. Intermittent in the beginning, progressing deeper and finding new joys over time. With Breathing Buddha, the last thoughts have dropped away as counting breath always seemed to keep me conscious of, well, counting. Granted, I have always dropped the counting after a handful of breaths, but Breathing Buddha has made for a delightful transition as I realize it don't have to count at all. It is a lovely concept, well executed, and very easy to start using." — Lynn Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in three styles). 25. A tiny milk frother that makes rich, creamy froths in seconds, because why stop at regular tea and coffee when you can have velvety-soft milk tea and lattes? Promising review:"So I'll admit I got this on a whim after seeing a TikTok video, however I'm in love with this thing! It's so much fun to use and you make your at home drinks feel so much more special. It's easy to use and froths pretty quickly if you're on the fence I'd say what are you waiting for buy it already!" — Denise Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 38 styles). 26. An affordable cult-favorite luxury-scented candle with a scent reminiscent of Le Labo's Santal 33, and a throw so satisfying that reviewers can't stop gushing about it. If you're in the market for a signature scent for your space, look no further than this jasmine, oud, and sandalwood blend. Lulu Candles is a US-based small business that specializes in scented candles and perfumes. Promising review: "This is such a great candle that fills the room quickly with a really nice strong smell that is soothing and relaxing. I was looking for a less expensive Le Labo Santal 33 scent candle, and this one is very, very close! It's a bit stronger, but I love it! The shipment arrived fast, and I just love how fast it fills up the room without being lit for so long!" — Cristina Bertolotto Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in six sizes, in gift box options, in packs of two, and in a variety of scents). 27. And a dreamy dimmable candle-warmer lamp so you can waft your favorite candles throughout your space in the most aesthetically pleasing (and safe!) way possible. Promising review:"I bought this on a whim, and I'm hooked. I love the timer and dimmer features. So far, the lamp works great. It doesn't put out a lot of heat and I love that you can adjust the light. This is now going to be my go-to gift." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.73 (available in nine styles). 28. A "Nap Guardian" doorbell cover that parents, pet owners, and nap lovers swear by to prevent the doorbell from ringing at all hours of the day. Now babies can stay asleep, very excitable dogs can stay on the couch, and very sleepy humans can get the shut-eye they deserve. Nap Guardian is a small business that specializes in doorbell covers for home use. Check out a TikTok of the doorbell cover in action. Promising review:"This is well-made and very easy to apply. I have it on my Ring doorbell camera, and it keeps delivery people from ringing my doorbell very well. It also does not obstruct my view or notifications for my Ring doorbell camera. Great for when taking a nap!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $19.99. 29. A 3D puzzle planter, so after you have the thrill of putting all the pieces together, you also have a teensy home a new plant friend to move in! Promising review:"This 3D puzzle planter is the cutest thing. It's easy to put together and and it looks great with a little succulent in it." — slj Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in nine patterns). 30. And "The Secret Soup," yet another addition to the cult-favorite Magic Puzzle series so beloved on TikTok. Like the others before it, this whimsically illustrated, colorful addition isn't just a puzzle but a journey — there are tons of Easter eggs in it, a collection of miniature scenes full of optical illusions and surprises, *plus* a magical twist at the end. You'll have to solve the puzzle to find out! Check out a TikTok of the magic puzzle in action. Promising review:"So much fun! I love this brand. It's like people who are obsessed with doing puzzles decided to start making puzzles. The quality, attention to detail, and the tiny things, like even a puzzle-shaped sticker included in the box, made this my favorite brand to do. I would highly recommend this for any puzzle lover." — Jenny Lea Get it from Amazon for $22.99, and check out the rest of the Magic Puzzle lineup for more options!. 31. A gorgeous gooseneck electric tea kettle with all of the aesthetic of the Fellow version, minus the $195 price tag. This features a rapid boiling mechanism, auto-shutoff, and a gooseneck design that allows you to control the flow of water more precisely, so you and any guest who comes into your home will have the *ultimate* brews. Psst — if you're interested in extra features, like the ability to choose the exact temperature of the boil and hold the temperature for over an hour, check out the Fellow version! Promising review: "Absolutely love this electric kettle! The color is so beautiful and adds a lovely touch to my kitchen. It has a sleek and modern design that really stands out. Plus it heats up water incredibly fast, which is perfect for making coffee in the mornings. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a stylish and efficient kettle!" — LauraC Get it from Amazon for $38.99+ (available in two styles). 32. A TikTok-famous 3-in-1 convertible "reading chair" that reviewers love putting in their home office and living room spaces because it truly fulfills *so* many essential cozy needs at once. Not only does this include USB ports for your phone or Kindle, a cup holder, and a side pocket for books, but it can be pulled out easily into a sleeper chair or a full flat sleeper in an instant. Bonus? There's ~secret storage~ at the bottom for extra sheets and pillows. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the reading chair in action. Promising review:"Amazing reading chair/lounger. If you're one of those people who needs to change positions often while reading, this chair is the bomb. I leave a charging cord in the arm for my phone and headphones, slide out the foot, and grab whatever book I chucked under there. I can lay down, recline, sit straight, etc. with ease. The foot stool part, being collapsible and held up with thin bars, did kind of sink a little after awhile but nothing that makes the chair feel broken or look lopsided. It's a solid little guy and I plan on picking another one up eventually for another room I like to read in." — Calvin Andrews Get it from Amazon for $239.99+ (available in six colors). 33. A northern lights projector for anyone whose heart is in the magic of the cosmos, but whose butt would much rather be snuggled on a couch than freezing by a glacier. Bonus: This also plays soothing noises and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker! Promising review:"I love this light! The stars are beautiful, the colors are beautiful. I like that it shuts off in four hours. I use it in my house so I don't have to turn the lights on all the time. I like it so much, I just ordered three more to give to my grandchildren. It also has sounds like the sound of rain, or ocean waves. And you can even play your regular music on it. Don't be afraid to try it! It's like having the northern lights anytime you want." — Amy J Nelson Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
11 New Books to Read in February
Credit - Spend the shortest month of the year with a book that is worth your time. The best new books to read in February include best-seller Ali Hazelwood's latest romance, transgender activist Jennifer Finney Boylan's second memoir, and Virginia Feito's blood-soaked sophomore novel about a sociopathic governess. Get ready to fall in love with critic Sarah Chihaya's debut memoir, which looks at her obsession with books, or Cristina Rivera Garza's subversive thriller about a poetry-obsessed serial killer. Allegra Goodman uses the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, a French noblewoman who was abandoned in 16th century Canada, as inspiration for her new novel, Isola. And Rich Benjamin's debut memoir is a deeply reported love letter to his mom, the daughter of Haitian politician Daniel Fignolé. Here, the 11 new books you should read in February. In 2003, Jennifer Finney Boylan released her groundbreaking first memoir She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders, which chronicled the earliest years of her gender transition. More than two decades later, she is once again reflecting on what it means to be a trans person in America. With Cleavage, her new memoir-in-essays, she examines the growing gender divide at this critical juncture in the U.S. She reflects on the differences between manhood and womanhood as she has experienced them since her transition in 2000, as well as the experiences of those who exist outside the binary, in hopes of narrowing the gap between us all. Buy Now: Cleavage on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble In 2019, essayist Sarah Chihaya had a nervous breakdown that coincided with a bout of the titular anxiety disorder, which causes someone to have an intense and irrational fear of books and writing. With her memoir, Chihaya explores her lifelong struggle with mental illness and obsession with books—specifically those she refers to as 'Life Ruiners,' the literature that became integral to her being, sometimes in a negative way. She shares how those books, which range from Anne of Green Gables to The Last Samurai, fueled her descent into madness — and how they helped her find her way out. Buy Now: Bibliophobia on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Virginia Feito's grisly follow-up to her 2021 debut, Mrs. March, centers on a sociopathic English governess with a taste for vengeance. When Winifred Notty arrives at Ensor House, she plans to do nothing more than teach the children how to read and write. But as Christmas rolls around, she succumbs to her bloodthirsty ways in this tongue-in-cheek thriller set to become an A24 film starring The Substance's Margaret Qualley. Buy Now: Victorian Psycho on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Three years after the release of her best-selling novel, Sam, Allegra Goodman returns with a thrilling tale of resilience inspired by the true story of Marguerite de La Rocque, the 16th-century French noblewoman who was abandoned on a deserted island. In Isola, Marguerite's jealous guardian accuses her of having an affair with his servant. He dumps her and her lover on a hidden isle off the coast of Canada that is full of polar bears and little else. In order to survive, Marguerite must do what she's never had to before: fend for herself. Buy Now: Isola on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Take a dive into the Deep End, Ali Hazelwood's steamy new romance set in the world of collegiate swimming. Scarlett Vandermeer is a talented Stanford diver who is recovering from an injury that almost ended her career and far too busy studying to become a doctor to even think about dating. That is, until she meets Lukas Blomqvist, a popular competitive swimmer and her best friend's former crush. They couldn't be more different on paper—he's the life of the party, she's more likely to be found in the library—but they both share an interest in BDSM. When the two embark upon a mutually beneficial and consensual sexual relationship, Scarlett questions whether she's looking for more than just a good time. Buy Now: Deep End on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble With his debut essay collection, Pure Innocent Fun, Ira Madison III takes the pop culture that made him who he is today very seriously. Across 16 essays, the critic, TV writer, and host of the Keep It podcast writes about the effect Oprah's weight-loss odyssey, Jennifer Hudson's American Idol loss, and his genuine love of Coldplay had on him while growing up as a gay Black man in Milwaukee. As he gives new consideration to the cultural touchstones of his youth, he explores how each helped him find his critical voice as an adult. Buy Now: Pure Innocent Fun on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble In his debut memoir, Talk to Me, cultural critic Rich Benjamin unearths the secrets of his family's hidden past in hopes of better understanding his mother. In 1957, a coup ended the presidency of his grandfather, the Haitian folk hero Daniel Fignolé, and shattered the lives of the entire family. But no one, including Benjamin's mom, an advocate for children who was often cold to her own son, ever talked about the events of that time. Through intense research, Benjamin looks to understand the far-reaching consequences of the devastating political event. Buy Now: Talk to Me on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Alligator Tears, the follow-up to Edgar Gomez's 2022 memoir, High-Risk Homesexual, offers a look at the author's experience growing up poor, queer, and Latinx in Florida. Across 10 essays, he chronicles years of working thankless jobs, including a stint as a flip-flop salesman, and the difficult choices his family had to make to get by, including whether or not to call an ambulance they knew they couldn't afford. Throughout the book, he also shares how he was able to crawl his way out of poverty through a mix of hard, often low-paying work and more than a few well-timed scams. Buy Now: Alligator Tears on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Kelsey McKinney, the former host of the Normal Gossip podcast, uses her latest book to explore society's obsession with hearsay — and why that's not such a bad thing. Well, until it is. You Didn't Hear This From Me, a mix of cultural criticism, modern history, and personal memoir, breaks down the differences between harmless rumors and outright lies in order to show the important role gossip plays in human connection. Buy Now: You Didn't Hear This From Me on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble With The World After Gaza, award-winning journalist Pankaj Mishra looks to reevaluate, recontextualize, and reframe the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. He does this by taking a closer look at how the Holocaust became a way for the U.S. and other Western nations to justify Israel's actions. From there, Mishra explores how the selective reading of global history is hardening us to the tragedies happening not only in Gaza, but also all around the world. Buy Now: The World After Gaza on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cristina Rivera Garza's 2007 lyrical novel, newly translated from the original Spanish by Robin Myers and Sarah Booker, is a serial killer tale with a twist. Death Takes Me begins with a literature professor finding the body of a mutilated man only to discover that she has an odd connection to the crime scene. The police find lines of poetry from the late real-life Argentine poet Alejandra Pizarnik, who she has studied for years. As more bodies pile up, the professor is enlisted to help catch the poetry-obsessed murderer. But when she starts receiving cryptic notes from the mysterious killer, she begins to worry that she could be the next victim. Buy Now: Death Takes Me on Bookshop | Amazon | Barnes & Noble Contact us at letters@
