ReportWire

Tag: Shopping

  • Keep Your Kids Entertained With These Adorable Screen-Free Speakers

    [ad_1]

    With a lovely mix of music, stories, and sounds, all available in eight languages, this speaker successfully combines fun and education. It is durable, has its own handle, and is simple enough for toddlers to operate. Timio is for kids aged two years and up. There’s no need for a screen, app, or internet connection, as your child can play content by selecting one of the plastic discs and slotting it on top. You get five discs in the box covering classical music, farm animals, vehicles, lullabies, and bedtime stories. Each disc looks like a clock face with pictures at each hour, and kids simply press the one they want. Additional sets of discs are $22 and cover all sorts of topics, from dinosaurs to learning colors.

    The speaker sounds surprisingly good, and there’s a 3.5-mm audio port for kids’ headphones. Timio is a great way to introduce your kids to other languages or for multilingual households (you can press and hold the language button to switch between English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Chinese, Italian, and Portuguese). There’s also a quiz mode, with prompts like find the police car, identify numbers, or select a specific shape. Timio does require three AA batteries, and when you screw open the back panel, you will also find the SD card that holds the content. We recommend rechargeable batteries, as you will change them often if Timio proves popular with your kids. Although they are large and you get a bag to keep them in, there is a risk that discs will go missing.

    For kids aged 2+ years.

    [ad_2]

    Simon Hill

    Source link

  • 15 Can’t-Miss Walmart Black Friday Deals That Make Even Better Gifts — Starting at $11

    [ad_1]

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Black Friday is days away. You know what that means: even more deals on deals on deals than the ones that soft-launched earlier this month. The flurry of discounts is the perfect excuse to pick up gifts for everyone on your list (and stay on budget while doing it). You might already know what you want to grab for your favorite home cook, host, or baker. But if you’re still figuring it out, no worries. That’s where we come in.

    [ad_2]

    Micki Wagner

    Source link

  • 3 Behaviors to Expect from Consumers During the 2025 Holiday Shopping Season

    [ad_1]

    The 2025 holiday shopping season is approaching, punctuating the end of a year filled with economic uncertainty. As a result, businesses should be preparing for a consumer landscape shaped by equal parts optimism and caution.

    Findings from several recently published studies indicate that shoppers are expected to be highly intentional, balancing value and convenience as they navigate economic pressures. Understanding these behavioral shifts will be key for businesses aiming to capture attention and loyalty in a competitive and fickle marketplace.

    According to Adobe’s online shopping forecast, published in October, the 2025 holiday season is expected to produce slower but still record-breaking growth in e-commerce. The deceleration is attributed to ongoing economic uncertainty, inflation, and tighter consumer budgets. Ryder’s 2025 e-commerce consumer study, published in September, echoes these findings, reporting that 44 percent of shoppers plan to reduce 2025 holiday spending compared to 2024. 

    That said, however, 28 percent of consumers said they don’t plan to make any changes in spending, even if that means purchasing fewer items, and 10 percent plan to make more purchases, even if that means spending more. To capture the attention of cautious spenders, focus on offering clear value and flexible purchasing options.

    Holiday purchasing decisions are being driven by a mix of cost-saving factors

    Free shipping remains the most powerful motivator for shoppers, according to Ryder’s study, with 76 percent of respondents reporting it as more likely than any other factor to influence their 2025 holiday purchasing decisions. The second most likely factor to influence consumers’ holiday purchasing decisions was sales and discounts (64 percent), followed by free returns (31 percent), emphasizing the importance of transparent, customer-friendly return policies for brands aiming to win over cautious holiday shoppers. Notably, 94 percent of respondents selected at least one of these as a top-three factor in their holiday purchase decisions. 

    Another anticipated trend from Adobe’s holiday shopping forecast is the dominance of mobile commerce, which is being forecast to account for a record 56.1 percent of all online spending. Similarly, 50 percent of respondents in Ryder’s consumer study said they plan to conduct 2025 holiday shopping using mobile apps; however, additional findings suggest 2025 holiday shopping activity will be well spread across channels. Ryder’s study revealed that 74 percent of online shoppers also plan to shop in physical retail stores, along with 73 percent on e-commerce marketplaces, 70 percent on store/brand websites, and 23 percent on social media marketplaces. 

    Maintaining a seamless omnichannel presence appeals to shoppers because it allows them to move effortlessly between online, mobile, and in-store experiences—whichever they happen to be embracing at any given moment. They want to be able to enjoy consistency in branding, pricing, and customer service as they browse, check inventory, redeem promotions, and complete purchases, wherever it’s most convenient. This flexibility builds trust, saves time, and makes the shopping journey feel easy and enjoyable, which ultimately increases satisfaction, loyalty, and conversion rates across every channel.

    The 2025 holiday season is bringing in a tide of consumers that are more discerning, digitally fluent, and value-driven than ever. While shoppers continue to prize deals, free shipping, and flexible payment options, they’re also blending digital convenience with the tactile experience offered by in-store shopping. The brands and retailers that will earn their attention and business will be those that anticipate these hybrid behaviors, aligning promotions, fulfillment, and customer engagement across all channels. Combining operational agility with authentic connection will position businesses to not only meet consumers’ expectations unique to the holiday season, but also strengthen loyalty well into the year ahead.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

    [ad_2]

    Steve Sensing

    Source link

  • This 6K Monitor Has More to Offer Than Just More Pixels

    [ad_1]

    The UltraFine 6K is also a Nano IPS Black display, which is something the Asus model is not. Nano IPS Black is actually a combination of two technologies that improve the image quality of IPS in different ways. Nano IPS enhances color coverage, while IPS Black cranks up the contrast. The combination of the two is pretty spectacular, especially on a monitor this sharp. It covers sRGB and AdobeRGB at a full 100 percent, something I’ve never seen on an IPS monitor before. The color accuracy is also incredibly strong. Right out of the box, I measured the average color error at a Delta-E of 0.62. Anything under 1.0 is considered excellent, even for professional color graders. No further calibration needed here.

    In terms of brightness, my review unit topped out at 480 nits in standard dynamic range (SDR), which is quite bright. The screen has an anti-reflective, matte coating that deters glare and reflections without dimming the screen too much. This is probably going to bother some people coming from a glossy, older LG 5K display. Although I’d also prefer a glossy display, LG’s solution is subtle enough. And while this is certainly not a proper HDR monitor in that it uses a conventional LED IPS panel, I was able to measure 640 nits of peak brightness in HDR. That’s far from what OLED or mini-LED can do. Remember: The HDR effect is created by higher brightness and contrast. That’s what makes OLED displays attractive. The UltraFine Evo 6K has a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, but I only got 1,720:1 in my testing. That’s still better than the average, though, as monitors like the Dell UltraSharp 32 4K use an enhanced IPS Black in order to push the contrast closer to 3,000:1.

    The refresh rate is the one big problem with the UltraFine Evo 6K’s picture. It’s only 60 Hz. It doesn’t matter how sharp, vibrant, and color-accurate your image is if the motion feels stiff. Even fairly affordable monitors like my favorite, the Dell 27 Plus 4K ($300), have a 120-Hz refresh rate. That’s likely not the fault of LG, as Asus’ 6K monitor is also stuck at 60 Hz—but it’s a current limitation of the resolution on offer. I have no doubt that future 6K monitors will come out with a 120-Hz refresh rate, but as of now, that’s a trade-off you’ll be making for the extra pixels.

    Pricey Proposition

    Photograph: Luke Larsen

    The LG UltraFine Evo 6K costs $2,000. While that’s not as much as Apple’s ridiculous Pro Display XDR, it also lacks the HDR capabilities that make that monitor special. The price feels especially egregious when you consider how cheap OLED monitors are getting. Dell’s first nongaming OLED, the Dell 32 Plus QD-OLED, is only $850 and is often on sale for under $700. It’s only 4K, but it’s better for both watching and producing HDR content.

    Lastly, if you’re set on 6K, there’s also the Asus ProArt PA32QCV to consider. I haven’t tested it yet, but it’s $600 cheaper than LG’s model, despite using the same 6K panel. What does that extra $700 buy you? A flashier design, for one, but also more up-to-date ports. Although I like where Asus has placed its ports better than LG, it uses old specs such as Thunderbolt 4 and DisplayPort 1.4. The biggest difference is the lack of Nano IPS Black, which means it likely doesn’t have the color performance and contrast of the LG model. These differences aren’t insignificant, but are they worth $700? That’s tough to say, especially since they are otherwise the identical panel. I can’t say for sure until I’ve tested Asus’ model, but on the surface, the LG UltraFine 6K does feel a little overpriced by comparison.

    On the other hand, if you’re already dropping this much cash on a 6K monitor, image quality is paramount, and the inclusion of Nano IPS Black makes the LG UltraFine 6K a better alternative to OLED or the Pro Display XDR.

    [ad_2]

    Luke Larsen

    Source link

  • Brace for Cold Nights With the Best Down Comforters We’ve Tried

    [ad_1]

    Compare Our Top 11 Down Comforters

    More Comforters We’ve Tested

    If you want a warm blanket but you don’t want traditional down, consider a down alternative, or a comforter made with eucalyptus or bamboo.

    Buffy Breeze Comforter

    Courtesy of Buffy

    Buffy Breeze Comforter: The Buffy Breeze Comforter has been on my bed for years. It’s made with a eucalyptus fiber fill and has a eucalyptus fiber cover, which lends it a silky feeling and excellent temperature regulation. It keeps me warm in the winter, but in the summer it doesn’t get too hot or feel too stifling. There are cute duvet covers available that I don’t entirely love—the comforter shifts around inside quite a bit—but if you want a duvet cover, this one is decent and made out of similar materials so it won’t detract from the comforter’s cooling features. The best part is that the Buffy Breeze is pretty affordable, and it goes on sale during basically every shopping holiday.

    The Company Store Legends Luxury Luxe Royal Down Medium Warmth Comforter: For the price, I admit I was expecting this to be about as high-end a down comforter experience as one could get. And indeed, the RDS-certified Legends Luxury Luxe Royal looks nice, with a silky embossed basketweave design on the cover, but it didn’t have the same loft or fluffy feel as the brand’s Legends Hotel line. Which is strange, as it has a higher fill power than my favorite Legends Hotel comforter, the Premium Alberta (700-750 to Alberta’s 600-650). And it’s not just me—during testing, I lent the Legends Luxury Luxe Royal to my teen son, who had previously been trying the Alberta, and he only made it three days before asking for the Alberta back. —Kat Merck

    11 Best Down Comforters Tested in Our Homes in Every Season

    Photograph: Kat Merck

    LaCrosse Premium Down Medium Warmth Comforter: From the Company Store’s flagship LaCrosse collection, this RDS-certified comforter hits all the brand’s high points: loops for comforters that have ties; 600-650 fill power; combed cotton sateen cover. However, it is around the same price as the Legends Hotel Premium Alberta, above, which is considerably fluffier. —Kat Merck

    Image may contain Plant Blanket Home Decor Cushion Pillow Bench and Furniture

    Courtesy of Brooklinen

    Brooklinen Airweave Cotton Quilt: This fluffy quilt is made of a waffled, textured fabric that feels lightweight, airy, and fluffy but still manages to keep heat in. It’s a wonderful blanket for summer months or afternoon naps, and I love the punchy colors. (I tested it in Marigold, a vibrant orange that brings me joy every time I see it.) My tester blanket did have a couple of loose threads, but careful snipping took care of them.

    Utopia Bedding Down Alternative Comforter: If you’re on a tight budget, this affordable down alternative comforter offers great value for the price. It’s quilted and lightweight, but it’ll still keep you warm despite not being particularly heavy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the outer fabric—it’s microfiber that I found to be a bit scratchy and rough. But the comforter is available in a wide array of colors (there are 11 to choose from), and it has corner loops so it’ll work with a duvet cover. It’s also well-constructed—I didn’t find a single loose thread or stitch, unlike some other affordable comforters I’ve used in the past.

    Eden Om Bamboo Comforter in white draped on a bed.

    Eden & Om Bamboo Comforter

    Photograph: Louryn Strampe

    Eden & Om Bamboo Comforter: This blanket is silky-soft and quite thin. It’d be a great option for a summer blanket since it’s naturally cooling, though conversely, you might want to have a warmer comforter around for cooler nights. Even in the Extra weight, it doesn’t completely block the chill from my box fan, let alone keep me warm enough in the brutal winter months. But on nights when it isn’t dreadfully chilly outside, this blanket reminds me of the Buffy Breeze comforter (above)—it helps regulate my body temperature without making me too warm or too cold. It’s also pretty breathable so on the off chance I do sweat, I don’t wake up feeling trapped and overheated.

    Ikea Fjällbräcka: I used this Ikea comforter for several years. It’s not even 100 percent down (they cut it with duck feathers), it tends to get a little lumpy, and it’s not especially lofty, but it does have a 252-thread-count shell that prevents feather leakage. The biggest downside is that the added duck feathers give this comforter a little more of a “poultry smell” than white goose down feathers would. However, this comforter is also machine washable and sturdier than a lot of quilts I’ve used at this price point. —Martin Cizmar

    Comforters We Don’t Recommend

    White Noise Goose Down and Feather All Season Comforter a white padded blanket draped on a bed with a grey rug...

    Courtesy of Wayfair

    White Noise Goose Down and Feather All Season Comforter: This all-season medium-weight comforter is breathable, balanced, and suitable for all seasons, with between 2 and 3 inches of 600-fill power thickness. The outside material is soft but feels sort of weird to the touch because it’s made of polyester and nylon—although this helps with noise reduction and is quieter than the others I’ve tested. It’s machine washable and struck a great balance between being thin and light enough for warmer weather while having enough thickness to still feel cozy. However, the comforter came with a really weird, pungent odor that smelled like grass and sweat. I washed and dried it two times to make the stench bearable to sleep with, but every once in a while during testing I could still smell the odor faintly. This is a solid all-season down comforter that strikes a good balance and has a great price point. I just wish it hadn’t smelled so gross. —Molly Higgins

    Down is the layer of fluffy feathers between a bird’s outer feathers and its skin. It’s a great insulating material—just think of all those birds that manage to stay warm and dry all year long. Down is efficient, it’s more eco-friendly than some alternative materials, and it’s breathable despite keeping things so warm. Down holds up well over time with proper care, so your initial investment will last for years. A down comforter is especially worthwhile if you live in a cold climate. Blankets made with down alternatives or other types of materials can be good, too, but if you’re looking for a warm blanket that’ll last decades, down is probably what you want. We have an article dedicated to helping you decide.

    How Do You Choose a Down Comforter?

    Look for a cover thread count between 230 and 500. Fabrics with these thread counts are “down-proof” and minimize the chances of feathers poking through.

    Fill power vs. fill weight: Fill power is a measurement of how much space, in cubic inches, an ounce of down takes up—for instance, a fill power of 600 means one ounce of down will take up 600 cubic inches. A higher fill power means fluffier, more efficient down. Fill power doesn’t necessarily translate to warmth, but it’s an indication of the quality of the down and how much the down compresses. Fill weight, on the other hand, is the amount of down inside the product. If something has high fill power but low fill weight, it won’t necessarily be warmer than if something has low fill power and high fill weight. It’s a little confusing. The most important factor is how the down is distributed. Look for baffle-box or sewn-through construction in your comforters for an indication that down will be distributed evenly and keep you warm throughout the night. Baffle boxes keep down lofty but need to be shaken sometimes to reallocate the down inside, whereas sewn-through keeps things in place but often results in a slightly less fluffy comforter.

    Goose vs. duck down: Goose down has a higher fill power than duck down, so it’s fluffier and loftier. It’s also less smelly and generally more hypoallergenic. On the other hand, duck down is usually more affordable. We think goose down is best unless you’re on a very tight budget. Two common types of goose down are Hungarian and Hutterite. Both are considered to be top-notch based on the large down clusters typical of birds that come from the cold regions of Hungary and Canada. Hutterite tends to be more affordable. You likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two. Hungarian down can be a bit loftier, and Hutterite down can be a bit softer, but ultimately neither of these factors should make or break your decision to purchase a comforter. When it comes to the types of birds the down comes from, however, you should look for all goose down or at least a blend of goose and duck. That will cut back on odors and allergens and offer a fluffier, more high-quality blanket.

    Down comforter care tips: If you’re investing in a comforter, you might want to consider getting a duvet cover, which can help protect the comforter and also usually improves the look (unless you’re into plain white). When it comes to washing the comforter itself, you want to follow the instructions on the care tag, and wash it as infrequently as you can. You can do it at home if your washer is big enough; otherwise, head to local laundromat to use their bigger machines. Use a delicate wash cycle with high spin speed to get as much moisture out as possible, and avoid using fabric softener, which can degrade the down’s fluffy texture. You should also use a small amount of detergent—err on the side of less, not more—and consider an extra rinse cycle to ensure that all the soap is rinsed out. Make sure that your comforter is fully dry using a low-heat setting. It might take a few cycles. Fluff the comforter between rounds to ensure efficient drying and maximum loft. I like using wool dryer balls to help make drying more efficient.

    How Does WIRED Test Down Comforters?

    For each comforter we tested, our testers slept with our respective picks for at least seven nights in locations around the US—our testers included folks living in Portland, Oregon; northern Illinois; New York City; and Kansas City, Missouri. Every comforter in this list has at least been tested during autumn, though most have been tested during every season. We looked for comforters that struck a balance between price, efficiency, and quality, and sought out different fill weights, fill powers, and materials to ensure our recommendations met a variety of reader needs. We assessed how we felt as we fell asleep, slept, and woke up. We paid careful attention to details such as whether a comforter was noisy while settling in for the night, or whether any feathers poked through. We’re always testing new down comforters, especially during the colder months. We are also testing more down alternative options which will be featured in a separate story.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

    [ad_2]

    Louryn Strampe

    Source link

  • AI is poised to become Santa’s little helper this holiday – MoneySense

    [ad_1]

    “For years, I always felt stressed out by things like Christmas because I really wanted it to be great and I really wanted to buy great gifts, but it’s always just so much work and time,”  said Box, a Vancouver-based gaming executive. “This feels easier and I like it.,” 

    The way Box is shopping is no anomaly. Consumers are increasingly turning to AI to recommend products, notify them of sales, help them make purchases and arrange deliveries. The holidays are expected to kick those behaviours into overdrive. 

    AI drives smarter holiday spending

    A survey of 18,000 consumers and 7,500 business leaders Shopify commissioned found 64% will use AI for at least one shopping task this holiday season. In the coveted gen Z demographic, which spans ages 18 to 24, a whopping 84% will make use of the tech.

    While many shoppers have been using AI for purchases since ChatGPT’s November 2022 release sparked widespread adoption of the technology, the financial strain the holidays can bring may push new users to give it a try. “The consumer is so price sensitive and it is a really great tool for deal finding and comparisons,,” said J.C. Williams Group retail strategist Lisa Hutcheson. “This will be a year that people start to realize that.”

    Shoppers will also be inclined to use AI because they are “overwhelmed by choice,” said Jenna Jacobson, director of the Retail Leadership Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University. There’s never been as many ways to shop and as much selection as there is today, but wading through it all takes time and energy that people don’t have on a good day, let alone during the bustling holiday season.

    featured

    SimplyCash Card from American Express

    Earn a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and 3% on U.S. dollar purchases. Redeem rewards when you want.

    GO TO SITE


    Interest Rates:
    21.99% purchase, 21.99% cash advance, N/A balance transfer


    Welcome offer:
    $100 value



    Earn a bonus 5% cash back on all purchases (up to $2,000 in purchases). That’s on top of your everyday cash back earn rates. That’s up to $100 in bonus cash back.

    featured

    CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card

    Earn 4% cash back on gas and groceries, and save at the pump with exclusive fuel discounts.

    GO TO SITE


    Interest Rates:
    21.99% purchase, 22.99% cash advance, 22.99% balance transfer


    Welcome offer:
    $250 value



    Join and earn over $400 in value including a first year annual fee rebate.†

    featured

    SimplyCash Preferred Card from American Express

    Get a minimum of 2% cash back on all your purchases—one of the highest base rates in Canada.

    GO TO SITE


    Interest Rates:
    21.99% purchase, 21.99% cash advance, N/A balance transfer


    Welcome offer:
    $250 value



    Earn a bonus 10% cash back on all purchases for your first 3 months (up to $2,000 in purchases). Plus, earn a $50 statement credit when you make a purchase in month 13. This could add up to $250 in bonus value in your first 13 months.

    “The thing with Black Friday and Cyber Monday is that you’re dealing with a very short time period and this is why retailers like it. It creates the pressure of ‘Buy now or the sale is going to be gone,’” Jacobson said. AI helps customers “cut through the noise” because they can use it to track prices, get alerted to new product drops and even uncover coupons or other promotions, she said.

    These habits are reflected in data from consultancy firm Accenture which found 59% of the 630 Canadians it surveyed in August and September planned to use the technology for product comparisons this holiday season. About 54% said they would rely on AI for help finding purchase locations and 47% would use it for gift ideas and inspiration.

    AI guides gift searches, with some gaps

    Jacobson figures most of the people using AI for holiday shopping are treating it as a way to research and get gift recommendations, but savvier consumers are relying on it to help them be strategic or save. 

    Article Continues Below Advertisement


    Box will be in both camps this Christmas, when he plans to use the technology to wade through Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales to unearth gifts that have a personal feel. He’s confident AI will nail the task because when it was time to buy a birthday gift for his rugby-loving son, ChatGPT didn’t just recommend any ball. It knew the family is Australian and suggested a ball used by the country’s rugby team. Similarly, when Box was shopping for boots, it recommended ones he hadn’t found by himself that wound up being “far more appropriate” for the occasions he had in mind.

    But AI isn’t a godsend in every shopping situation, points out Caitlin Chua. The Toronto-based account manager recently used ChatGPT to generate a list of features and differences between phones she was considering buying. When preparing to travel to Croatia, she also asked the chatbot to find her a place to stay that met her desired specifications, budget and vibe. She wound up happy with what AI produced in those cases but had less success when she asked Dupe.com—an AI tool that helps users find more affordable versions of items—to uncover a copycat pair of Alo pants with a specific cutout that were constantly sold out. 

    The website returned “options that were similar, but … because none of these other options had that cutout, I didn’t end up buying anything,” she said. “This is where there’s limitations to AI.” The lack of results satisfying Chua may mean there were no similar products out there but it’s also possible there were and AI just couldn’t find them. 

    After all, “AI is still in its early days” and has hiccups, Hutcheson said. Its prone to dredging up outdated and often incorrect information and experts generally advise people not to treat its output as foolproof. Yet customers and retailers aren’t shying away from it. Chua will likely still use AI for price comparisons this holiday, when brands hope the technology will give them an edge. 

    Retailers push AI, but hurdles remain

    Shopify and online marketplace Etsy are so bullish about its potential, they even partnered with OpenAI in September to gradually let ChatGPT present their merchants’ inventory—without links or redirects—for immediate purchase. Jacobson sees it as building on search engine optimization and social media marketing to meet the customer where they want to shop. 

    But not everyone is as advanced as Box. Brick and mortar retail still reigns supreme in Canada, and even those willing to try AI shopping don’t always realize or want to give up more personal details about themselves or their gift recipient to yield better results.

    “That’s probably going to be the biggest hurdle,” Hutcheson said. “So there may be some education needed, but I don’t think it’s going to happen this holiday season.”

    Get free MoneySense financial tips, news & advice in your inbox.

    Read more about shopping:



    About The Canadian Press


    About The Canadian Press

    The Canadian Press is Canada’s trusted news source and leader in providing real-time stories. We give Canadians an authentic, unbiased source, driven by truth, accuracy and timeliness.

    [ad_2]

    The Canadian Press

    Source link

  • The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    [ad_1]

    Know someone who lives in their kitchen. These delicious proof tools make mealtime simpler and make great gifts. I’m going to show you three amazing products, ones we’ve tested, we just love, and they’re unbelievably versatile. First, this warming mat is great for holiday parties and buffets and costs about $40 on Amazon. The temperature, set the timer for it to shut off. This is *** must, must have, especially if you’re doing *** lot of cooking. It’s it’s the holidays and you’ve got big pots and you don’t have much space. If you’re always on the go, check out NutriBullet’s $70 portable rechargeable blender. You can even use your laptop to charge it. You’re at your desk the middle of the day. You’re like, you know what, it’s smoothie time. And what is totally awesome is you don’t have to lug around this the base, the base and just take this. It’s done, boom. Finally, this space saving collapsible steamer and strainer from Williams Sonoma costs just under $30. It pops open like this, and you can either use it to steam or you can fully immerse whatever food you want to cook. Give the gift of self-care. Women’s Health has you covered with gift suggestions that are equal parts relaxing and thoughtful. We have curated *** few of our favorite gifts and products that will make an amazing present for anyone in your life that needs *** little extra rest or relaxation, and don’t we all? First up, the $19 Beauty Sleep fabric spray from Laundreist. Put it on your pillow for *** calming effect before bed. This is *** very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster. There’s also an active wear version that is great for refreshing gym clothes. Next, Nodpod’s $38 weighted sleep mask. So *** lot of sleep masks, when you wrap them around your head. They can be kind of uncomfortable when you’re laying on your back or on your side. This one really takes away that whole issue. And for *** soft, luxurious splurge, Brook Lennon’s super plush robe starts at $95. The Women’s Health editors are obsessed with this robe because it is really like stepping into *** five-star spa when you get out of the shower. Shopping for someone who loves their home, look no further than these Good Housekeeping approved gifts. The three gifts that we’ve chosen here today for the home are award winners and editor favorites from Good Housekeeping for 2025. 1st, something practical and perfect for anyone with *** green thumb. These $14 Fiskers pruning and gardening shears. This pair of shears from Fisker’s cuts easily. Through stems and branches whether you’re pruning house plants or pruning shrubs outside, we love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with *** lifetime guarantee. Next, *** gift that brings peace of mind, the $75 smoke and carbon monoxide detector from Kitty is Ring App enabled and connects to your smartphone. The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger. And simultaneously sound an alarm through all of the connected detectors in your home. And for the home cook who loves *** clean countertop, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum costs about $89. They’re your batch cooking on Sundays like me or baking for the holidays. We all know what *** mess the kitchen counter and stove can look like after this vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen clean up quick and easy. Looking for something special for the beauty lovers in your life? Cosmopolitan has you covered. Cosmo Beauty editors test products all year long. We’re always researching, reviewing, swiping, swatching all of the newest beauty launches. Let’s start small and affordable with *** perfect stocking stuffer. These $9 lip balms from EELF come in tons of colors. You can use them on your own or layered over ***. Lip pencil for *** fun lip combo, but really great stocking stuffer at $9. You can’t go wrong. Next, Dazzle Dry’s fast track mini kit for $39 you’ll get salon quality nails at home. So on average, you’ll get 10 days out of *** Dazzle Dry Manny. You can do it at home. It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally 5 minutes for that fresh from the salon blowout. Multi-stylers are having *** major moment. The T3 Air is *** splurge at $250 but that’s half the price of *** Dyson Airwrap. So there’s one base, and then there’s all these interchangeable parts. This is the blow dryer, round brush, really good for *** bouncy blowout, and then two interchangeable curling wands, super easy to use, works on all hair types, and also comes in three really cute colors. Shopping for the outdoorsmen or woman in your life, Men’s Health has *** few solid picks to choose from. all year long at Men’s Health, our team is testing the latest and greatest in new gear. Like these tumblers, Arctic has been one of Men’s Health’s top cooler brands for years. Now they have *** $20 to $25 happy hour collection. What I love about these is that they’re. Insulated, that means that anything you’re putting into them, whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste for camping trips, the $40 Coast voice control lantern is *** great find. Now these things can operate with *** button press, but you can also activate this little one here and say coast red. And it changes for you and for *** sensible splurge, the Amaze Fit Active 2 smartwatch costs about $100. *** lot of guys on staff have these, including myself. Set up is *** cinch. It’s incredibly easy to navigate and it has *** 160+ workout mode so you can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy in your life.

    The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    Our experts from Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Delish share their top holiday gift picks.

    Updated: 12:38 PM PST Nov 24, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    National Consumer Producer

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list. Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan. If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said. For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.” For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.” Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes. For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said. Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief. To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said. Foodie gifts loved by Delish For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said. Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list.

    Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover

    For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

    If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said.

    For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.

    Elf Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

    Dazzle Dry Fast Track Cherry Mini Kit

    Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts

    If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.”

    For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.

    For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.”

    Happy Hour Lowball Tumbler

    RTIC Happy Hour Pint Tumbler

    Coast EAL35R Voice Control Lantern

    Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health

    To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes.

    For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.

    If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said.

    Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray

    Laundress Activewear Fabric Spray

    Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

    Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping

    For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief.

    To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.

    For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said.

    Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears

    Kidde Ring App Enabled Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

    KitchenAid Go™ Cordless Kitchen Vacuum

    Foodie gifts loved by Delish

    For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.

    For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.

    For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said.

    Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender

    Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket

    williams-sonoma.com

    $29.95

    Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    [ad_1]

    Know someone who lives in their kitchen. These delicious proof tools make mealtime simpler and make great gifts. I’m going to show you three amazing products, ones we’ve tested, we just love, and they’re unbelievably versatile. First, this warming mat is great for holiday parties and buffets and costs about $40 on Amazon. The temperature, set the timer for it to shut off. This is *** must, must have, especially if you’re doing *** lot of cooking. It’s it’s the holidays and you’ve got big pots and you don’t have much space. If you’re always on the go, check out NutriBullet’s $70 portable rechargeable blender. You can even use your laptop to charge it. You’re at your desk the middle of the day. You’re like, you know what, it’s smoothie time. And what is totally awesome is you don’t have to lug around this the base, the base and just take this. It’s done, boom. Finally, this space saving collapsible steamer and strainer from Williams Sonoma costs just under $30. It pops open like this, and you can either use it to steam or you can fully immerse whatever food you want to cook. Give the gift of self-care. Women’s Health has you covered with gift suggestions that are equal parts relaxing and thoughtful. We have curated *** few of our favorite gifts and products that will make an amazing present for anyone in your life that needs *** little extra rest or relaxation, and don’t we all? First up, the $19 Beauty Sleep fabric spray from Laundreist. Put it on your pillow for *** calming effect before bed. This is *** very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster. There’s also an active wear version that is great for refreshing gym clothes. Next, Nodpod’s $38 weighted sleep mask. So *** lot of sleep masks, when you wrap them around your head. They can be kind of uncomfortable when you’re laying on your back or on your side. This one really takes away that whole issue. And for *** soft, luxurious splurge, Brook Lennon’s super plush robe starts at $95. The Women’s Health editors are obsessed with this robe because it is really like stepping into *** five-star spa when you get out of the shower. Shopping for someone who loves their home, look no further than these Good Housekeeping approved gifts. The three gifts that we’ve chosen here today for the home are award winners and editor favorites from Good Housekeeping for 2025. 1st, something practical and perfect for anyone with *** green thumb. These $14 Fiskers pruning and gardening shears. This pair of shears from Fisker’s cuts easily. Through stems and branches whether you’re pruning house plants or pruning shrubs outside, we love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with *** lifetime guarantee. Next, *** gift that brings peace of mind, the $75 smoke and carbon monoxide detector from Kitty is Ring App enabled and connects to your smartphone. The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger. And simultaneously sound an alarm through all of the connected detectors in your home. And for the home cook who loves *** clean countertop, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum costs about $89. They’re your batch cooking on Sundays like me or baking for the holidays. We all know what *** mess the kitchen counter and stove can look like after this vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen clean up quick and easy. Looking for something special for the beauty lovers in your life? Cosmopolitan has you covered. Cosmo Beauty editors test products all year long. We’re always researching, reviewing, swiping, swatching all of the newest beauty launches. Let’s start small and affordable with *** perfect stocking stuffer. These $9 lip balms from EELF come in tons of colors. You can use them on your own or layered over ***. Lip pencil for *** fun lip combo, but really great stocking stuffer at $9. You can’t go wrong. Next, Dazzle Dry’s fast track mini kit for $39 you’ll get salon quality nails at home. So on average, you’ll get 10 days out of *** Dazzle Dry Manny. You can do it at home. It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally 5 minutes for that fresh from the salon blowout. Multi-stylers are having *** major moment. The T3 Air is *** splurge at $250 but that’s half the price of *** Dyson Airwrap. So there’s one base, and then there’s all these interchangeable parts. This is the blow dryer, round brush, really good for *** bouncy blowout, and then two interchangeable curling wands, super easy to use, works on all hair types, and also comes in three really cute colors. Shopping for the outdoorsmen or woman in your life, Men’s Health has *** few solid picks to choose from. all year long at Men’s Health, our team is testing the latest and greatest in new gear. Like these tumblers, Arctic has been one of Men’s Health’s top cooler brands for years. Now they have *** $20 to $25 happy hour collection. What I love about these is that they’re. Insulated, that means that anything you’re putting into them, whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste for camping trips, the $40 Coast voice control lantern is *** great find. Now these things can operate with *** button press, but you can also activate this little one here and say coast red. And it changes for you and for *** sensible splurge, the Amaze Fit Active 2 smartwatch costs about $100. *** lot of guys on staff have these, including myself. Set up is *** cinch. It’s incredibly easy to navigate and it has *** 160+ workout mode so you can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy in your life.

    The ultimate editor-approved holiday gift guide

    Our experts from Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan and Delish share their top holiday gift picks.

    Updated: 3:38 PM EST Nov 24, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ


    National Consumer Producer

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list. Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan. If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said. For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.” For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.” Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes. For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said. Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief. To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said. Foodie gifts loved by Delish For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said. Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    Looking for the perfect gift this holiday season? We teamed up with editors from Cosmopolitan, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping and Delish to round up thoughtful, top-tested gifts for everyone on your list.

    Cosmopolitan-approved gifts for the beauty lover

    For an easy stocking stuffer, check out e.l.f.’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balms, which come in a variety of colors for $9. “You can use them on your own or layered over a lip pencil for a fun lip combo,” said Lauren Balsamo, beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

    If you are shopping for someone who loves doing their nails at home, Dazzle Dry’s Fast Track Mini Kit offers long-lasting polish that dries super fast. “It’s inexpensive, but the best part is it dries in literally five minutes,” Balsamo said.

    For a beauty splurge, the T3 Aire 360 multi-styler includes interchangeable attachments for blowouts, curls and more. It’s “super easy to use, works on all hair types, and comes in three really cute colors,” Balsamo said.

    Elf Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm

    Dazzle Dry Fast Track Cherry Mini Kit

    Men’s Health-approved outdoor gifts

    If you are shopping for someone who loves the outdoors, RTIC’s Happy Hour Collection includes insulated tumblers that keep drinks cold. “What I love about these is that they’re ceramic insulated,” said Paul Kita, deputy editor at Men’s Health. “Whether it’s wine or coffee or even an old fashioned, it doesn’t take on that tinny metallic taste.”

    For campers, the Coast EAL35R voice-controlled lantern is a hands-free lighting option that responds to simple commands. “If a guy in your life loves camping but he doesn’t like getting up off of the camp chair, this is the gift for him,” Kita said.

    For a tech-forward gift, Amazfit’s Active 2 Adventure Smartwatch offers easy setup, crisp visibility in bright light and more than 160 workout modes. “A lot of guys on staff have these, including myself,” Kita said. “You can specialize it to whatever kind of active guy’s in your life.”

    Happy Hour Lowball Tumbler

    RTIC Happy Hour Pint Tumbler

    Coast EAL35R Voice Control Lantern

    Cozy gifts backed by Women’s Health

    To elevate a bedtime routine, The Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray adds a light, calming scent to bedding and pajamas. “This is a very light scent that is made to help you relax and ease stress and fall asleep faster,” said Abigail Cuffey, executive editor at Women’s Health. There is also an activewear version that is great for refreshing your gym clothes.

    For a comfort-focused gift, the Nodpod weighted sleep mask provides gentle pressure similar to a weighted blanket. “It just feels like a weighted hug on your face and on your eyes at night,” Cuffey said.

    If you want to splurge, Brooklinen’s Super-Plush Robe brings spa-level softness to everyday routines. “It is really like stepping into a five-star spa when you get out of the shower,” Cuffey said.

    Laundress Beauty Sleep Fabric Spray

    Laundress Activewear Fabric Spray

    Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

    Home gifts approved by Good Housekeeping

    For plant lovers, Fiskars’ pruning shears make trimming stems and branches easy thanks to their sturdy construction and smooth locking mechanism. “We love that they’re easy to lock and unlock and that they come with a lifetime guarantee,” said Elspeth Velten, Good Housekeeping’s editor in chief.

    To add safety and peace of mind at home, Kidde’s smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector connects to a phone and links with other alarms in the house. “The detector will ping your phone at the first sight of danger and simultaneously sound an alarm,” Velten said.

    For quick cleanups, the KitchenAid Go cordless kitchen vacuum tackles crumbs on counters, stoves and tight corners. “This vacuum gets into every corner and crevice and makes kitchen cleanup quick and easy,” Velten said.

    Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears

    Kidde Ring App Enabled Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detector

    KitchenAid Go™ Cordless Kitchen Vacuum

    Foodie gifts loved by Delish

    For holiday hosting, the rollable FYY warming mat keeps dishes warm for hours without taking up extra space. “This is a must-must-have, especially if you’re doing a lot of cooking … and you don’t have much space,” said Robert Seixas, senior food director at Delish.

    For the smoothie lover, the is rechargeable, travel-friendly and great for keeping at your desk. “You can even use your laptop to charge it,” Seixas said.

    For an inexpensive tool that saves cabinet space, the Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket is collapsible, making storage easy. “You can either use it to steam or fully immerse whatever food you want to cook,” Seixas said.

    Nutribullet Flex Portable Blender

    Williams Sonoma Silicone Steamer Basket

    williams-sonoma.com

    $29.95

    Need holiday recipe ideas to go with your new kitchen tools? Explore the new Delish app for endless cooking inspiration.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • The Oura Ring 4 Is $100 Off Ahead of Black Friday

    [ad_1]

    Looking for a health and fitness tracker that doesn’t require you to wear a big, bulky watch? You can grab an Oura Ring 4 for just $249 from Amazon, a $100 break from the normal price. It’s compatible with both iOS and Android apps, has a battery that last for days, and accurately tracks a ton of health data, from hiking and sleeping to period predictions and food intake.

    • Photograph: Simon Hill

    • Photograph: Simon Hill

    This generation of the Oura smart ring has a number of major improvements, but the biggest upgrade is to the overall wearability. The sensors have been recessed further into the body of the ring itself, which reduces the overall thickness considerably and allows for a wider available range of ring sizes. They also cover a wider portion of the ring, so there’s no need to keep it oriented in one specific direction to get proper readings.

    The battery life has improved a lot as well. The older Oura 3 could run for around three days before it needed a charge, Our reviewer, Adrienne So, reported that the Ring 4 tracked a full weekend of hiking and physical activity, as well as a music festival, and still had enough juice for at least a couple more days.

    You get a ton of health and physical fitness data from the ring, which is neatly sorted into daily physical data, detailed vitals, and longer trends over time, all organized in the app on your phone. If you want to also keep track of your food intake, a new Meals feature lets you take photos of what you eat and then track its effects on your body. Oura has also worked with Natural Cycles, a fertility tracking app, to predict periods using your basal body temperature.

    The Oura Ring 4 is an impressive health and fitness tracker in a surprisingly small package, and one of the only downsides from our review was the price point for the silver-colored finishes. Thankfully, the mirrored silver and classic black are marked down to the lower $249 price point, with varying discounts on the other options, like $299 for the brushed silver, or a larger $150 discount to bring the gold down to just $349.

    [ad_2]

    Brad Bourque

    Source link

  • Have Fresh Bread Your Way All the Time With an Automatic Bread Maker

    [ad_1]

    Keen to enjoy homemade bread but put off by all the kneading by hand, flouring, and yeast-starting that comes with it? Then using one of our tested bread makers that does the hard graft for you—like the KBS Pro ($150) or Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus ($400)—may just be your ticket to carb heaven. A great way to liven up a club sandwich or add heart to a hot soup, homemade, unprocessed bread not only tastes great but can be easily made in one of the latest bread makers in just a few simple steps.

    With a good bread maker, you can produce a generously sized 1-pound basic tin loaf in around four hours from start to finish, which is ideal for slicing up and popping in one of our recommended toasters. Bread makers come with various settings for bread styles beyond your standard loaf too—with French, gluten-free, whole wheat, and sweet options such as banana and date loaf all just a “set and forget it until it’s ready” step away. Some bread machines also have settings for making pizza and pasta dough or fruit jam, which is great if you’re feeling even more adventurous in the kitchen.

    “Time and temperature are essential in bread baking, and consistency is one of the biggest variances we face as bakers,” Peter Edris, head baker at New York’s artisan Frenchette Bakery, told WIRED when we asked him how he creates the perfect loaf. “If you want to make good bread, then you need to have the right equipment for the job—invest in a good scale, a good thermometer, and time everything.” Without a team of professional bakery staff on hand, we embraced the shortcut solution to domestic bliss and called in a range of the latest bread makers to test. Here we’ve highlighted our favorite designs, included tips on what to consider before you buy, and shared expert advice on how to get the best from your home bakes.

    For more kitchen gear, check out our guides to the Best Stand Mixers, Best Espresso Machines, and Best Air Fryers.

    Updated November 2025: We’ve added a couple of bread-making accessories and ensured up-to-date links and prices.

    Jump to Section

    [ad_2]

    Emily Peck

    Source link

  • Best Buy’s Pre-Black Friday Sales Have Already Begun. Here’s What to Buy

    [ad_1]

    Whether you like it or not, Black Friday is next week. The holiday shopping season is upon us, and it’s when some of the best deals of the year make their appearance. Ahead of Black Friday, Best Buy has been offering some really solid tech deals on some of our favorite products we’ve tested and reviewed, ranging from laptops and gaming mice to cordless vacuums. So, whether you’re shopping for the perfect gift for that tech lover in your life or if you’ve been waiting all year for prices to drop on something for yourself, there are a few great options below.

    For more great discounts, check out our Best Early Black Friday Deals roundup and all of our deals coverage here.

    The Latest MacBook Pro

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    The M5 MacBook Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is only a month old, and it’s already on sale. It’s the only Mac so far to get the bump to the latest M5 chip, benefiting from improved performance all around. In my testing, there was a significant step forward everywhere you looked, including the GPU, the CPU, and the Neural Engine for AI tasks. It’s the GPU that’s seen the biggest leap, though, which should speed up both gaming and creative applications. Other than that, this is the same MacBook Pro you probably already know and love, with its bright mini-LED screen, robust speakers, and extra ports (over the MacBook Air, at least).

    This base 14-inch model doesn’t have the incredible value of the MacBook Air or the powerhouse performance of the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro. Ultimately, when it comes to which MacBook you should buy, the answer is still the Air. But the M5 versions of these laptops aren’t coming until next year, so if you’re after the latest Apple Silicon in one of the best laptops you can buy, this deal on the M5 MacBook Pro is solid.

    The Best Bluetooth Speaker

    • Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    • Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    • Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    The JBL Flip 7 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is a Bluetooth speaker that has it all. As our A/V reviewer Ryan Waniata says, “JBL’s Flip strikes the perfect compromise between mobility and sound quality, offering clean detail with plenty of punch.” Waniata also praises the durability of the Flip 7, which is important in a Bluetooth speaker meant to be used outdoors. There are tons of different color options to match your vibe, and it gets up to 16 hours of battery life. The increased water resistance means it’ll bring the party to wherever you need it. Put simply, it’s the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy, and it’s at a great price.

    Our Favorite Dyson Vacuum

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    • Photograph: Nena Farrell

    • Courtesy of Dyson

    Everyone wants a cordless Dyson vacuum, but they tend to be exorbitantly expensive. It’s still not cheap, but at $300 off, this is as good a deal as we’ve seen on this vacuum. The V15 Detect is our vacuum expert’s favorite Dyson. In her testing, Nena Farrell says she was impressed by how much dust and dirt it sucked up from her carpet, as well as from hard floors. The V15 Detect also comes with an extra sensor that can actually count the number of dust particles. That’s overkill for most people, but if you have severe allergies (or have friends or family that do), the Dyson V15 Detect can actually verify what you’re picking up.

    The Best TV Deal Right Now

    Image may contain: Electronics, Screen, Computer Hardware, Hardware, Monitor, TV, Person, Adult, Ball, Football, and Soccer

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    OLED TVs might be the best TVs you can buy, but if you’re shopping for a TV under $1,000 like most people are, the TCL QM6K QLED (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is what you should be eyeing. It’s a 4K mini-LED screen, and our TV reviewers call it “a versatile display that does just about everything well, from naturalistic colors to rich black levels and impressive clarity.” It’s not the brightest TV in the world, but it does come with a 144-Hz refresh rate for gaming and a smart Google TV interface for your streaming needs. There are screen options ranging from 55 inches up to 98 inches, all of which are on sale ahead of Black Friday, with the happy-medium 65-inch model starting at $500.

    The Best Phone Under $300

    Image may contain: Electronics, Phone, and Mobile Phone

    Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

    Motorola

    Moto G Stylus 2025

    No one is calling the Moto G Stylus 5G the best phone in the world. In fact, our phone expert (and tech editor extraordinaire, Julian Chokkattu) recommends Nothing’s Phone 3a as the better cheap phone. But the 2025 Moto G Stylus is not only the best Moto G phone you can buy, it also has a lot of high-end features, such as a large 6.7-inch AMOLED screen with a 120-Hz refresh rate. It even has a beautiful blue back, a built-in stylus, and a headphone jack. That’s a lot of uncommon features in a remarkably cheap phone, especially at its discounted pre–Black Friday price.

    A Classy Gaming Laptop

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    The Razer Blade 14 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a gaming laptop. The RGB-backlit keyboard and green snakes logo on the lid give it away. But if not for those elements, you could easily mistake the Blade 14 for a true MacBook Pro rival made for content creators and pro users. It’s around the same thickness as the MacBook Pro, despite the fact that it has a powerful discrete graphics card for gaming. That’s what makes it such a great hybrid device that could work just as well for school and work as for late-night gaming.

    The Razer Blade 14 didn’t get a massive revamp in 2025, but the new model did make some tweaks. It now has an OLED panel, which is high-resolution (2880 x 1800) and color-accurate, and it sports a faster 120-Hz refresh rate. It’s not the best gaming screen I’ve seen on a laptop, but again, it’s a great comparison to the MacBook Pro. And for this price, it’s a must-buy.

    The Perfect Travel Partner

    Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds

    Courtesy of Sony

    These earbuds came out a couple of years ago, but they remain some of the best you can buy. When they came out, Sony’s fifth-generation of high-end wireless earbuds were trimmed down to around 25 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter than the previous generation. You also get two extra full charges from the case, for a total of up to 36 hours of listening. That all makes it the best pair of earbuds for traveling in particular. There’s no compromise in noise canceling either. In fact, our A/V experts say the XM5 have “some of the most advanced functionality in terms of EQ, touch controls, and adaptive noise canceling available on the market.” They’re $100 off the retail price ahead of Black Friday, which is the best discount we’ve ever seen on them.

    An Incredible OLED Gaming Monitor

    Black desktop monitor with silver screen as screen shows a scene from a game

    Courtesy of Samsung

    Samsung

    Odyssey G6 OLED Gaming Monitor

    Samsung makes some of the prettiest gaming monitors, especially in the past couple of years. Within its Odyssey lineup, there’s now just about every size and form factor of monitor you can imagine. The Odyssey G6 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a 27-inch OLED with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a 360-Hz refresh rate, which should be great no matter what game you’re playing. Want extreme frame rates for competitive shooters? You can drop the resolution to 1080p and explore the higher echelon of the 360-Hz refresh rate. For slower-paced single-player games, the 1440p resolution is crisp, and the OLED panel gets you gorgeous HDR in games. It’s $250 off the full price ahead of Black Friday, down now to $650.

    A Dirt-Cheap Chromebook

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    • Photograph: Luke Larsen

    You can’t expect a laptop this cheap to be without compromises. But when it comes to budget Chromebooks, this is as good as it gets. It’s a reasonably affordable and attractive laptop, with lots of ports, decent performance, and a comfortable keyboard. For a Chromebook, the specs aren’t bad either, coming with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. Unfortunately, the touchpad isn’t the best, nor is the display. It’s not bright enough, and the colors look off. For a laptop under $300, though, the CX14 should do the trick, especially for a student or a first-time laptop owner.

    A Gaming Mouse

    Image may contain: Computer Hardware, Electronics, Hardware, and Mouse

    Photograph: Henri Robbins

    Corsair

    Scimitar Elite Wireless SE

    If you play MMOs, you know how useful it is to map various actions to buttons on your keyboard or mouse. Well, this gaming mouse from Corsair gives you a ton of options to customize your gameplay. There are 12 reprogrammable side buttons, but the mouse also has a high 33,000-dpi optical sensor and 1,000-Hz polling for low input lag and high responsiveness. It can connect via a 2.4-GHz dongle instead of Bluetooth, too.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

    [ad_2]

    Luke Larsen

    Source link

  • I Just Tested Panasonic’s Best TV Yet, and It’s Premium in Every Way But One

    [ad_1]

    Space is the right environment for a TV with this level of staggering contrast, and it’s not just the dramatic moments, but also the more subtly lit scenes that stand out. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2 is full of searing highlights and colorful bursts of space glow, but moments like the crisp sunrise on the Guardians’ plumb-brown shirts or the dark corridors of their small ship were just as impressive thanks to the Z95B’s masterful color gradients and shadow detail.

    That meticulous touch comes through in everything you watch, including plain old HD sitcoms like The Office, where I found myself oddly enamored with moments like the auburn highlights of Jim’s hair or the gleam of Andy’s tie. This may not be the reason you buy a premium TV, but it’s lovely to find joy in the little things. Skin tones look almost touchably natural and clean, enhanced by the TV’s knockout image processing, and even lower-quality video looks good with its improved upscaling.

    That’s not to say you won’t find plenty of bombast here; the Z95B gets as bright as anyone should need when properly tasked. Playing Mad Max: Fury Road on 4K HDR Blu-ray with the Panasonic DP-UB9000 elicited the perfect dichotomy between the dull desert backdrop and the catastrophic lightning storm. The storm’s jagged bolts split the sky with precision, erupting with blistering shocks of orange and white, right down to that sputtering white-hot flare.

    Part of the Z95B’s potency comes from its excellent glare reduction. Like the LG G5, it’s able to reduce everything but direct reflections while preserving its obsidian backdrop for a more dramatic contrast in brighter rooms than Sony’s rival Bravia 8 II QD-OLED. I think the Bravia beats both TVs for image clarity, but it’s close. Only Samsung’s similar S95F offers a more potent way to kill the glare while still preserving contrast.

    The Z95B and G5 are unsurprisingly similar, given that they share the same panel. The Z95B feels slightly more natural in its color and lighting, and a bit better for off-axis viewing, but that may be recency bias. I’d need to see them back-to-back to point to any real differences. Some extra color banding in Dolby Vision streaming content and a bit of image stuttering are the only noticeable flaws I saw in the Z95B over two weeks. (Note: I reviewed the G5 after LG addressed initial complaints of HDR color banding.)

    All four premium OLEDs provide knockout performance, each with its own specialty. I’m partial to the G5 and Z95B over the Samsung and Sony for their balance of fiery brightness with jet-black backdrops—and the G5 has an edge with its four HDMI 2.1 ports and better smarts. The Z95B is hard to deny, though. If you’re after an all-in-one screen that elevates everything to showcase levels, this is the TV to take home.

    [ad_2]

    Ryan Waniata

    Source link

  • How to Get the Perfect Surround Sound Speaker Setup

    [ad_1]

    Of course, promise is not the same as deliver—and just as with those soundbars that want to replicate the effects of a surround sound setup, it’s difficult in the extreme to create a sensation of spatial audio without the physical equipment necessary.

    For home cinema, the words ‘spatial audio’ can confidently be swapped for ‘3D sound’. Unlike a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup, which creates a circle of sound around the listener, a spatial audio system creates a dome, where sound is delivered from above, as well as from the front, sides and rear.

    Imagine your 7.1-channel system, and add four overhead speakers that have their own discrete information contained within the soundtrack. What you have now is a 7.1.4 system, and any content that’s been mixed specifically for a spatial audio system has an extraordinary amount of scope for the steering of effects within the dome of sound the system can create.

    The best way to achieve a spatial audio effect from height channels is by precisely positioning speakers into the ceiling of your home cinema room. I hardly need to tell you that is is a relatively complicated process, and never what you might be tempted to call “cheap.” That is why a number of loudspeaker brands have developed upwards-firing modules that are designed to sit on top of some of the speaker cabinets in your surround sound setup, and reflect sound off the ceiling in an effort to replicate the effect of overhead speakers. It’s a similar method to those spatial audio soundbars with drivers that face upwards—but obviously on a larger scale.

    Does Surround Sound Actually Sound Better?

    For the most dedicated movie fans, the answer here is undoubtedly yes—if you choose to invest in a surround sound setup, the sound that accompanies the movies you watch will be completely transformed. Whether it’s right for you, your budget and your space is a very different question, and it’s worth weighing up the other options for improving your home cinema sound before you invest.

    Surround Sound vs Stereo Sound

    Which is “better” between surround sound and stereo sound isn’t really an absolute here—it’s a bit like trying to decide which is better between apples or onions. It’s fair to say, though, that if your primary interest is in home cinema rather than in music, a surround sound setup is going to bring you far closer to the objectives of the filmmaker (and their sound designer) than a stereo alternative has a hope of doing.

    All movie soundtracks will have been mixed to be delivered by a surround sound setup, and that’s true whether you’re getting your movie from a streaming service or via legacy media such as 4K Blu-ray. There will be a stereo downmix available for those listening through a TV or stereo system, of course, but the true intentions of a surround sound mix will only become apparent if it’s heard through a surround sound system.

    Surround Sound vs Soundbars

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    For anyone trying to decide between surround sound and a soundbar, what’s best will come down to your budget and/or the space you have—plus how much you really watch movies, and want the full-on home cinema experience. Yes, a soundbar is more convenient than a surround sound setup, and it’s almost certainly more affordable. But is it a surround sound solution? You already know the answer to that one.

    [ad_2]

    Simon Lucas

    Source link

  • I’ve just had a baby – I lived in these maternity dresses throughout my pregnancy

    [ad_1]

    The best maternity dresses don’t just see you through your pregnancy, but after you’ve given birth too. That’s what three Glamour editors on maternity leave found, anyway.

    If you’re anything like us you’ll likely prioritise comfort over style throughout each trimester, reaching (and re-reaching!) for the best maternity leggings, favouring stretchy maternity jeans and wearing your maternity nightwear whenever you can get away with it.

    That being said, maternity dresses are actually just as comfy and are, in fact, so much simpler to wear. A throw-on-and-go outfit when you’re too busy creating life to think about what looks good together? Sign us up.

    SKIP TO:

    The best maternity dresses, at a glance:

    Outline Lemon High-Neck Maternity Maxi Dress With Draped Skirt

    Jump to review

    Over the nine months that you’re carrying your baby, your body can change in ways you may never have thought possible. And while you might’ve written off maternity clothes altogether, assuming you can eke out the wear of your usual wardrobe staples, let us gently inform you that while possible for some of your looser pieces there may be a lot that you’ve outgrown. And that’s entirely normal, there’s no shame in it whatsoever. The great news, though? A lot of the maternity dresses that we’ve road-tested aren’t actually labelled ‘maternity’ at all; they’re very much versatile enough to be worn pre- and postpartum.

    Yep. Some of our favourite e-tailers have caught on to the need for multi-purpose maternity frocks, and their selections are growing daily – you can now find anything from casual day dresses to office appropriate pieces, and even dresses for a night out (tee-totalling and tearing up the dance floor until 2AM aren’t mutually exclusive, after all).

    Plus, many of our favourite high-street brand’s websites have specific ‘maternity’ sections, which makes shopping for new maternity dresses a lot easier when your mind is distracted by pelvic floor exercises and hospital bag packing…

    Why you can trust us

    Senior Beauty Editor, Elle Turner, Commerce Photo Editor, Neamh Randal and, freelance Fashion Editor, Charlie Teather, have all become first-time mums over the last few years, and – alongside, you know, prepping for one of humankind’s toughest physical feats and the subsequent life-altering reality of a tiny new human to care for 24/7 – rediscovering how to dress a body that was changing every single day posed a real challenge.

    We didn’t want to lose our personal style identities, but we also wanted to celebrate and not just ‘disguise’ this incredible moment in our lives. And if we were finding this balance hard to strike, after working our whole adult lives in the fashion and magazine industry, we figured others must be too. So, we made it something of a personal/professional mission to compile the ultimate maternity fashion guides. If for nothing more than for us to refer back to if/when we ever do this pregnancy thing again, because (spoiler alert) baby brain is no joke, people…

    How we tested the best maternity dresses

    The number of bump-friendly dresses out there is rather overwhelming. So, Elle, Charlie and Néamh, who are all currently navigating life with their tiny humans, trawled through high street and specialist brands to find the most stylish maternity dresses at every price point. They considered fit, style, value for money and longevity postpartum.

    From long sleeve stretchy dresses for casual days to drop-waist midis for nights out (because, yes, you can still hit the town with bump in tow) and a feathered mini dress to pack for your babymoon, they’ve brought you the best selection of maternity dresses out there. See a handful of their favs below, and the rest if you keep scrolling…

    Image may contain Clothing Sleeve Adult and Person

    Soft Rib Maxi Long Sleeve Dress

    Image may contain Adult Person Clothing Sleeve Electronics Mobile Phone Phone and Head
    Image may contain Clothing Dress Formal Wear Adult Person Fashion Standing Evening Dress and Gown

    Elle Turner wearing Free People.

    romina introini/@romilux

    Dahlia Embroidered Maxi Dress

    Here are the very best maternity dresses to add to your wardrobe immediately.

    [ad_2]

    Charlie Teather, Elle Turner, Néamh Randall

    Source link

  • ‘I’ve never felt such raw fear kick in’: Indiana woman pulls on her door handle in the Target parking lot. Then a bunch of coins fall out

    [ad_1]

    Lauren Muzz (@laurenmuzz), a woman from Fishers, Indiana, was having a normal day shopping at Target. That is, until she walked back to her car. In the parking lot, she noticed something suspicious about her car’s door handle. A bunch of coins fell out of it. Then, she noticed one coin jammed sideways to keep her door handle ajar.

    “ I instantly knew like something was wrong and I needed to get the heck out of there,” Muzz said in a video that she posted to TikTok. Since then, her clip describing the encounter has gotten 115,000 views. 

    Muzz’s story—a chance encounter? 

    Muzz spent about 20 minutes in Target before heading back to her car. It was around 7:00 p.m. when she tried to open her car door and noticed something off about it. 

    “ As I’m going to open the door, a bunch of coins fall out of my door handle and it’s dark. I’m confused. I don’t really know what’s going on. But, I keep trying to open my door. And that’s when a quarter gets lodged sideways in between my door handle,” she said.  

    Then, she noticed two people quietly sitting inside their car with no light. They weren’t using their phones or getting out of the car, something that made Muzz want to bolt back into Target. She went back inside the store and dialed 9-1-1. As she waited for an officer, she noticed that not even five minutes after she went inside, the car next to her had left. 

    A police officer arrived, and Muzz explained the situation to him. He examined her car and noticed that the coin keeping her car open was now flat.

    “ I can only assume that somebody was trying to get into my car when I went back into Target,” she said.

    @laurenmuzz @target #storytime #FYP #psa ♬ original sound – Lauren Muzz

    Muzz recounts her unanswered questions

    The police officer said it was unlikely Target’s security cameras captured the encounter. He cited the positioning of the camera as his reasoning for not asking to check the footage. 

    “ I was so like disoriented and frazzled that I did not question it, and I just wanted to get the [expletive] out of there,” Muzz said. But later, Muzz said she thought about following up with the police department and seeing if they’d be willing to check the cameras. 

    He also let her know that if a person placed a tracker in her car, it would most likely ping in a few days. 

    Muzz is grateful that she didn’t pick up the coins and that a man happened to walk by around the time she discovered them. 

    “ There was a guy that walked out of Target… 10 to 15 seconds behind me, and his car was parked adjacent to mine… He was getting in his car as I was like fumbling with my door handle,” she said. She wondered if his presence stopped anything from happening to her. 

    Overall, the situation frightened Muzz, who feels grateful to be safe now: “ I’ve never felt such raw fear kick in, and I never wanna feel that again… Stay safe everybody,” she said. 

    Where does wedging a coin in a door handle even come from?

    There’s a long-standing urban myth that wedging a coin into a car’s door handle makes it easier to break into them. Snopes wrote an article about the rumor, which started in 2015, and debunked it. There’s little evidence to conclude that wedging a coin in a car’s door handle can actually disable a remote locking system or grant access into the vehicle. 

    But thieves sometimes try to use this method to try and get a vehicle to not lock properly. According to another article from Trash Rite, the obstruction may limit a car’s ability to lock when the owner drives to another location. Once they leave their car unattended, they can swoop in and steal it. 

    There’s another separate idea that traffickers use coins, sunglasses, zip ties, and other calling cards to “tag” victims. Those incidents have all largely been debunked, or in the very least, haven’t had any tangible connection to trafficking incidents. They’re not backed by any sort of data from law enforcement officials. Sites such as Politifact and Snopes have both debunked various claims regarding general car tagging from trafficking organizations. 

    Comments questioning—Is Fishers a safe place?

    While many people expressed general fear at the thought of theft, trafficking, and other scary encounters, others expressed dismay that this incident happened in Fishers, Indiana. The city has little to no crime, scoring an A- according to crimegrade.org. 

    “[Indiana] girl here,” said one commenter. “Thanks for sharing. Fishers is supposed to be safe!” 

    “So wild I was just at Fishers target yesterday. I do know Fishers police have been patrolling the area more. Glad you’re safe,” another added. 

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Target and Muzz for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

    [ad_2]

    Rachel Thomas

    Source link

  • We’ve Spent Months Testing and Retesting to Find You the Best TV Antennas for Free TV

    [ad_1]

    Other Antennas Worth Considering

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Mohu Leaf (Passive) for $40-$45: After multiple scans and adjustments, I was able to get the latest passive version of the Leaf to receive nearly as many channels as our top picks. It’s a viable option if you don’t want to plug in, and it easily receives all my core channels, but it’s less consistent in both scanning and operation than our favorites at a similar cost. Barring a hot sale, it makes more sense to grab one of our top options, especially for rural areas.

    One For All Amplified a spherical antenna beside a charging cord both sitting on a white tablecloth

    One for All Amplified (16662)

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    One for All Amplified (16662) for $100-$120: This sphere-shaped antenna isn’t bad, just surprisingly expensive. The first time I scanned for channels it found nearly all available, including multiple Nextgen channels, and offered clear and stable reception. It proved slightly inconsistent upon channel rescan, but its main limitation is the high price.

    Antennas to Avoid

    Image may contain Electrical Device Microphone Adapter and Electronics

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    HIDB Electronics TV Antenna for $20: This tiny antenna tower is a top seller on Amazon, and I really hoped for a good showing given its negligible size and price. Unfortunately, though I was able to get it to scan plenty of channels, it proved highly inconsistent over multiple days of testing, with several dead channels showing up between scans. If you’re willing to gamble, it could get the job done on a budget, but it’s likely to leave multiple channels on the table even in urban areas.

    Image may contain Electronics Phone and Mobile Phone

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Mohu Vibe Amplified for $50: I’ve had bad luck with the more stylish pad and wand-style antennas, and this rather pricey model from Mohu is no exception. It proved inconsistent in testing across multiple TVs, dropping major channels like my local CBS, NBC, and PBS affiliates, along with plenty of lesser-used channels.

    Image may contain Accessories Home Decor Wristwatch Arm Body Part and Person

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Mohu Versa for $30: I wanted to like the stylish and simple Versa, one of the few antennas you’ll find these days that doesn’t include an optional amplifier. Unfortunately, it was one of the worst at pulling channels, including several that were scanned and listed on the TV but showed no signal.

    Clearstream Flex Amplified antenna a white panel and wrapped cords on a striped tablecloth

    Clearstream Flex Amplified

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    Clearstream Flex Amplified for $60: This massive antenna struggled some with channel reliability in scanning, even after multiple rescans. It was one of the few models we tested that failed to pick up our local ABC affiliate, along with a few other channel bands.

    One For All Suburbs Ultimate Antenna a long black device and charger cord on a striped tablecloth

    One for All Suburbs Ultimate (14426)

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    One for All Suburbs Ultimate Antenna (14426) for $50-$60: This thin black bar has stylish looks, but it was among the least consistent models we tested. It repeatedly pulled in fewer channels than similar models, leaving out wide channel bands, including major station affiliates.

    One For All Suburbs Ultimate antenna a white rectangular device sitting on a striped tablecloth

    One for All Suburbs Ultimate (14450)

    Photograph: Ryan Waniata

    One For All Suburbs Ultimate (14450) for $30: Another rather stylish and unique-looking model from One for All, this antenna is a bit janky to set up (especially its stand legs) and had more trouble bringing in multiple channels, including some major affiliates, than the top antennas we tested.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

    [ad_2]

    Ryan Waniata

    Source link

  • These 40 Tempting Tech Gifts All Cost Less Than $100

    [ad_1]

    Gift shopping on a budget is stressful. Prices sometimes soar around the holidays, making it tough to find genuine bargains. To help, we spent countless hours testing all manner of gizmos and gadgets to bring you expert advice on what is worth buying. These gifts are sure to bring a smile to your loved ones’ faces without breaking the bank too badly, though we know $100 isn’t exactly cheap, either.

    For more ideas, the WIRED 101 is full of things (sometimes expensive) that are sure to impress. If you don’t mind spending more, check out our Best Tech Gifts guide, and if money is tight, we’ve also made a list of the Best Gifts Under $25. For giftees with a particular passion, you can find tailored options, like gifts for audiophiles, coffee fans, book lovers, and more.

    Updated November 2025: We’ve added several new gadgets.

    [ad_2]

    Simon Hill

    Source link

  • Yes, Chef! Win Your Own Culinary Challenges With These WIRED-Tested Chef’s Knives

    [ad_1]

    Compare Our Picks

    Honorable Mentions

    Photograph: Molly Higgins

    New West Knifeworks Joy Bauer 6-Inch Chef Knife for $225: Like my New West Knifeworks pick above, this luxe knife is absolutely gorgeous, with a bold red-and-white handle and an accompanying embossed leather sheath. Created in collaboration with nutritionist and TV personality Joy Bauer, this 6-inch knife is a Japanese Santoku-style knife with a downward blade and a sturdy top slope, made from American-made 440C stainless steel. I found that food stuck to the sides of this blade, and it dragged more with starchier foods, but it is absolutely gorgeous and better for smaller tasks.

    Henckels Classic Precision 7-Inch Santoku Knife for $80: I’ve found this Santoku-style knife’s flat blade and straight edge are most effective for slicing and tap-chopping, with the low point and flat blade being effective for easy sliding and transport of chopped vegetables. This Spanish-made knife’s blade is made of German stainless steel with a satin finish, which also has divots to reduce food sticking to the sides. The Mannkitchen Santoku model below is a bit sturdier, but this is a more affordable, lighter Santoku option of those I’ve tested.

    Henckels Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife for $70: This 8-inch, Spanish-made Henckels knife has a classic German-style blade made from German stainless steel. It just feels like a heavy-duty workhorse knife. The finely honed blade transitions to an ergonomic triple-rivet handle. Although only 0.28 pounds, this knife feels heavier than the comparable Zwilling, in part because of this handle, which is less comfortable with more severe, squared edges than some others I tested. The blade was super sharp and I quickly cut most produce with ease, although it wasn’t as clean a cut on denser foods like potatoes. Plus, the starchier produce seemed to stick a little more to this knife than others.

    Image may contain Blade Knife Weapon and Cutlery

    Photograph: Molly Higgins

    Männkitchen 7-inch Santoku MK71S for $130: This Santoku Japanese-style knife feels a bit heavier than the majority on this list, although the triple-beveled handle is ergonomically designed and easy to hold, despite its large size. The hefty handle seamlessly blends into the stainless steel knife, and despite being heavy, I felt in control while cutting. This heavy-duty knife has a lower point, which makes it easier to dice and chop quickly without too much arm/shoulder movement or exertion. The blade is also wide and thick, making it feel a bit sturdier and easier to transfer veggies from the cutting board. This isn’t going to be my go-to for everything I cut on the reg, but I especially loved it for quicker, rougher dicing and chopping of things like herbs and garlic cloves.

    Hast Selection Series Japanese Carbon Steel 8-inch Chef Knife for $79: This sleek Hast knife is made of Japanese carbon steel (see above for more about carbon materials) from renowned steel maker Koike. It overall feels lightweight and svelte, and the ergonomic handle was very easy to grip, although it got a bit slippery (and potentially dangerous) when wet. Overall it doesn’t feel as heavy-duty as others tested, and flip-flopped a bit while cutting more dense foods like potatoes. It was able to make super smooth cuts on softer foods, and I felt able to control it easily while mincing garlic. This is a remarkably affordable option for a Japanese carbon steel chef’s knife that excels in making more precise cuts.

    Image may contain Weapon Blade Knife and Dagger

    Photograph: Molly Higgins

    Material the 8-Inch Knife for $105: This hefty, beautiful knife from Material has quickly become my go-to large knife for bigger cutting tasks. I noticed vegetables don’t stick to the side as much as other models, and it was surprisingly able to make ultra-thin cuts with control despite its large size. It’s a little longer, at 13.5 inches total, making it bigger and sturdier to use than the smaller styles I tend to go for. Each knife is hand-polished, heat-treated at 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and cryogenically tempered at -250 degrees to make the steel harder and more durable. The blade is made of sturdy Japanese high-carbon and stainless steel, with an oval-shaped, grippy, and matte composite handle, and the blade extends into the handle so weight is distributed more evenly. Plus, you can personalize this knife for a fun upgrade.

    Misen 8-Inch Chef’s Knife 2.0 for $94: This chef’s knife is made from Japanese high-carbon stainless steel with a high chromium content to resist rust, and features a long blade over 8 inches. The handle has an ergonomic rounded spine, which is sturdy, but wasn’t the grippiest or easiest to hold from those I’ve tested. This knife works excellently if you need longer, more precise cuts (I would imagine it’d be good for making scoring cuts or filleting a soft fish), but things tended to stick on the sides, and the sheer length of the blade made things less fast as I dealt with drag.

    I tested the only way I knew how: fumbling, cutting, slicing, and dicing in the kitchen, with a knife of the week, a cutting board (I used both wooden and plastic boards), and a variety of foods. I used each of these knives for a week while I made all of my meals, using them to do big tasks like cut through thick root vegetables, thinly slice cucumbers, roughly chop herbs, mash garlic, and even open plastic packaging. It’s also important to know how to do a few essential knife skills in the kitchen to make best use of your knives.

    I’m vegan, so I had some of my carnivorous friends and colleagues use these knives to also carve beef and cut up a whole chicken, to make sure the blades could withstand all types of textures. As stated earlier, the best knife is a sharp one, and each of these came out of the package deadly sharp. I cut myself more than once in the process, all for the greater good to find which chef knife belongs in your kitchen. (But a lesson was learned: Be extra careful when using a new, super sharp chef’s knife for the first time.)

    Let’s get this out of the way: The best knife is one that’s sharp. After duking it out in the kitchen for hours on end, I’ve found that what makes a knife truly great is a seriously sharp edge. A dull knife is dangerous—you’ll need to apply more pressure as you’re cutting, which means that when your knife slips, you cut yourself more deeply. Plus, a dull knife isn’t as precise or quick with cuts.

    Especially with a pricier knife, you’ll want to make that investment last as long as possible. That means regular sharpening to keep it in tip-top slicing shape. Unfortunately, there isn’t One Sharpener to Rule Them All. Different blade materials and shapes require different sharpening techniques. For example, many stainless steel blades are too hard to effectively be sharpened by traditional water stones. Former chef and current WIRED reviewer Scott Gilbertson recommends water stones for carbon steel and loves these Shapton stones.

    The majority of chef’s knives can be (relatively) easily sharpened when needed, which is typically done with a whetstone at around a 15 to 20 degree angle, followed by honing rod or leather for the smoothing knife’s edge. I’ve always used popular (and easy-to-use) pull-through sharpeners, which are more precise than steel and sharpen quicker than whetstones. But they are generally not recommended, especially for Serious Chefs™, because they shed quite a bit of metal in the process, weakening the durability over time.

    Most home chefs will only need to sharpen their knives around twice a year and use a honing steel to keep the blades in shape at other times. Although a few years old, we keep going back to this article from Epicurious on how to sharpen a knife the right way in order to keep your knives in the best shape for as long as you can.

    Should You Buy a Knife Set?

    In a word: no. Despite what the door-to-door salesman or your MLM-loving cousin says, knife sets are usually not a good investment. You just need a few good knives. An 8-inch chef’s knife will work best for most tasks in the kitchen. I have a smaller hand, so I also like a small paring knife for some tasks, and a serrated knife for bread, in addition to the chef knife. Knife sets often cost double or triple as much as buying just one good chef knife. Not to mention, the wooden storage blocks also take up useful counter space, especially if you live in a tiny New York apartment like me. We recommend you save your money by skipping a set and investing in a solid chef’s knife instead. (Plus, one or two others if you want a bit of variety.)

    What Makes a Knife a Chef’s Knife?

    As said earlier, it’s multipurpose tool used used to cut meat, dice vegetables, chop nuts or smash garlic. A chef’s knife, generally, is made of many layers of forged steel and has a sharp end point and a prominent edge with a sloping curve, which helps with the fast rocking motion that allows chefs to cut food quickly.

    A chef’s knife is among the most versatile knives in the kitchen and can be used for anything from chopping to cutting. Common uses for a chef’s knife include cutting meat, dicing vegetables, slicing herbs, and chopping nuts. The flat side of the knife can even be used to crush garlic. The versatility of this multipurpose knife makes it a must-have in any kitchen. It’s important to avoid any hard surfaces that would render the blade dull. In addition, learning how to hold a knife is an important first step to ensure the best results when using it.

    There’s also the material the blade is made out of to consider—these days, most blades are made from carbon or stainless steel.

    Stainless steel: This material is resistant to moisture, can hold a razor-sharp edge for longer, and is more flexible than carbon, making it more effective at absorbing impact. However, stainless steel takes longer to re-sharpen, which makes it more difficult to maintain without a professional sharpening system.

    Carbon steel: This material has a high carbon content, which makes it a very hard steel, and edges out stainless when it comes to general sharpness. Most often, they also hold an edge for longer and are easier to re-sharpen. Carbon steel is more sensitive to elements like humidity or water, so they require more timely and thorough cleaning and maintenance.

    All of the knives on our list are measured in the Rockwell rating/measurement, referred to as HRC of the steel. HRC measures how much of a mark a diamond point can make in the metal with the amount of weight; so, the smaller the mark is, the harder the steel, and visa versa.

    Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

    [ad_2]

    Molly Higgins

    Source link

  • The Ninja Slushi Is as Cheap as It’s Been for Black Friday

    [ad_1]

    For the first year of its life, the Ninja Slushi didn’t go on sale much. Mostly what it did was sell out of stock—over and over and over.

    But of course it did. The Ninja Slushi offers something that feels so rare these days: adult fun. It was the first device that really brought the bar slushie machine into the American home kitchen. It basically just takes whatever flavors you already have on hand and makes it into the kind of boozy slushie that would be sold at the 7-Elevens in heaven.

    Anyway, it’s now on a hefty sale—matching its lowest price for the full-time machine since it first went on sale in July 2024, then sold out almost instantaneously. On Amazon and the Ninja site, the Slushi is on sale for just $270, just in time for holiday gifts and holiday parties.

    • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

    • Photograph: Matthew Korfhage

    I can attest to enjoying the Ninja Slushi immensely. I have made cold-brew slushie lattes, mimosa slushies, frosé slushies, daiquiri and margarita slushies, sour-beer slushies, Mike’s Hard Mango Lemonade Slushies, and of course slushies made with fruit juice and simple syrup for parties full of children. All things cold and sweet are delicious.

    The Ninja Slushi was discounted to $300 as recently as October. At the time, this was the lowest I expected to see the price fall this year. Glad to be wrong, I guess.

    But discounts often come when brands release next-generation devices. And in late October, Ninja released a big-boi update to the Slushi. The Slushi Max XXL is named a bit like an energy drink and holds a whopping 150 fluid ounces—making it the likely choice for frat houses and patio parties next year. We haven’t tested it yet, but Ninja promises that the larger capacity also comes with faster freezing to keep pace.

    The Ninja Slushi Max, too, is on a steep sale. If you go to the Ninja site, you can get the new, larger device for just $350; same as the regular asking price for the smaller Ninja.

    Image may contain: Cream, Dessert, Food, Ice Cream, Appliance, Device, Electrical Device, Mixer, Beverage, and Juice

    The Amazon price is a little bit higher on the Slushi Max XXL, at least for now—though Ninja has a cascade of overlapping sales before and during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, so don’t expect this price to remain wholly stable.

    Either way, cheap slushies for everyone.

    Check out a whole host of other Early Black Friday Deals, including a raft of early Best Buy deals and early deals on Google Pixels.

    [ad_2]

    Matthew Korfhage

    Source link

  • The Best French Presses for a Full-Bodied Cup

    [ad_1]

    The French press is an unassuming piece of coffee-making equipment. It doesn’t require electricity, yet experts agree that it can brew a richer and more full-bodied cup of joe in comparison with its more technologically advanced peers. For example, natural oils that would otherwise be filtered out in a drip coffee maker remain fully intact, making the coffee aromatic and robust.

    The French press method of making coffee is straightforward, cost-effective, easy to do, and hard to mess up. The device also doesn’t take up too much counter space, especially if you’re using our top pick, the Espro P3 ($40). Once you have your measurements down, it’s a quick process of steeping coarse coffee grounds in near-boiling water.

    We tested these models using the James Hoffmann French press technique, in which he uses 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water, waits for four minutes, and stirs through the crust. Whether you choose a French press made from glass or stainless steel, a few factors make a difference based on your personal coffee needs.

    Want to make the process even easier? Take a look at our guides to the Best Aeropresses, Best Electric Kettles, and Best Coffee Subscriptions.

    Updated November 2025: We’ve added new French presses from Barista Warrior, DHPO, Yeti, Pure Over, and Aarke, moved some picks to Honorable Mentions, and ensured links and prices are up to date.

    [ad_2]

    Tyler Shane

    Source link