Eneloop rechargeable batteries. Having to look around for new batteries whenever a regular alkaline battery dies was annoying.
Coffee/Tea warmer. don't have to worry about your drink getting cold. 3 temp settings.
Have they arrived yet? I just ordered another pair, the New Yorks in Coffee color with gum bottoms. Wondering what the shipping is like right now. They are on sale for $59.
This explains why i have had to change the batteries in my xbox controller like 4 fucking times in 3 days where as the batteries that came with the series x controller lasted me like 2 weeks. Do you have a link to a pack i can buy? I already have the same charger posted above.
These things do work pretty well! They have my endorsement. Also rubbing your hands on stainless steel (like, the wall of a sink) will get the garlic smell off, which is another useful (if not life-changing) tip to know.
A garlic peeler. Just roll those fuckers in there to get rid of the skin. Super fast and easier than trying to get it off with your nails.
FWIW, since I started soaking mine in dish soap and hot water I haven't needed any gimmicky scrubbers.
I'd fear for my seasoning using one of these, but maybe it's ok. I've always been fine rubbing what i can off with my fingers under warm running water (pan has to cool a bit obviously), and then anything else I can feel on the pan but can't get off with my fingers, using a plastic scraper like this:
You shouldn't use soap on cast iron pans. It destroys the seasoning which is like 90% of the appeal.
This is a myth. The seasoning survives dish soap just fine. Soap used to have lye in it which absolutely destroys the seasoning, but does not any longer. Washing your cast iron with soap and water like any other pot is easier and faster than scrubbing it and scrubbing it with this that or the other thing. I've done both and have been using soap and water for about three years now and my pans are still beautifully seasoned.
Have they arrived yet? I just ordered another pair, the New Yorks in Coffee color with gum bottoms. Wondering what the shipping is like right now. They are on sale for $59.
Nice. I hope she likes them. They've really changed my life. My wife got me Stitch fix for Christmas and it arrived early. I tried on some regular brown leather shoes and that's what prompted me to buy a pair of brown leather Kiziks.Just wanted to say I bought a pair too, they arrived but they're currently wrapped for Xmas. My Wife already has 50 other pairs of shoes, so it'll be interesting to see what she thinks of these or they'll just join the huge pile.
Will update on Xmas.
A garlic peeler. Just roll those fuckers in there to get rid of the skin. Super fast and easier than trying to get it off with your nails.
I want one, but my wife isn't convinced. And the good ones are so expensive, she's dead set against it. I had her convinced about a year ago, after some co-workers talked them up, but when she saw the price tag, she changed her mind at light speed. She wants the $900 model but thinks <$300 is the right price. Maybe someday...
I get dry hands in the winter but what I use is a product called bag balm. I never heard of it until my mom got it for me. Originally the product was used for cow udders which is where the name comes from. It has a weird smell and feels like Vaseline but put it on at night and it does wonders. Don't know what it costs but I can't imagine it's too expensive. I've been using the same tin for almost 3 years.
As someone without a car and with shops in walking distance I find this thing really damn useful:
(goes by the brand name Clax)
A foldable shopping trolley (folds down to the size of the bottom level and has small feet to stand on its side then, you can detach the wheels if you need it even smaller) that takes those standard folding boxes so you just shop with the trolley, push it home and detach the box to carry it up the stairs.
Has it been explained how these are necessary when there are a million other things you can use for white noise, including white noise apps on your phone or whatever? Do they produce better white noise or is it just a matter of convenience having a dedicated white noise machine?It's been pointed out here more than once, but a white noise machine has literally saved me from my noisy neighbour. It's actively changed my life
They generally go louder, especially than a phone speaker, and have more sound options. Plus I'd prefer to not just have my phone's speaker running for 8 hours a night.Has it been explained how these are necessary when there are a million other things you can use for white noise, including white noise apps on your phone or whatever? Do they produce better white noise or is it just a matter of convenience having a dedicated white noise machine?
I use an Amazon Echo for it, and it works pretty well. I started using it to help my kids sleep, but now my wife relies on it to sleep. (We do brown noise instead of white noise, though. I tested it with my first kid and noticed she tended to fall asleep faster to it.)They generally go louder, especially than a phone speaker, and have more sound options. Plus I'd prefer to not just have my phone's speaker running for 8 hours a night.
I could see an Amazon Echo or something doing a similar job, but I'd never use my phone
What's it do that putting rice in a boiling pot for 15min doesn't?Microwave rice cooker
A $20 plastic bucket from Amazon forever changed the way I cook rice.
What's it do that putting rice in a boiling pot for 15min doesn't?
I have a small kitchen, so counter space is a premium.For a while, the only thing we had available to prep food was a microwave, but the rice cooker was so convenient that we kept on using it even after we had a stove available. It doesn't take up a spot on the stove and no need to wait for water to start boiling, plus it's really easy to clean and is dishwasher safe.
I gave one to my wife as a gift for when our new baby came. The amount of sweeping she was doing with two other kids was killing her back.Base roomba with the smart scheduling is fine as a starter. Later models really just add mapping and later the ability to select no go zones virtually, self-empty, specify 'clean under the dining table' etc. But you don't need those initially.
My wife was skeptical but absolutely loves ours now. One of the best purchases ever. We've also ditched our 'real' cleaner and just have the roomba + a handheld for corners/stairs/spot cleaning etc.
Doesn't the silicon leave a funny taste on the popcorn?I'll see your popcorn popper and raise you A DIFFERENT POPCORN POPPER:
It's a silicon popcorn popper. It's $10-$20 on Amazon depending on which one you buy. You throw some kernals in the bottom of the bowl, (with or without oil, it's fine either way,) microwave it for 2-3 minutes, and you got yourself a bowl of fresh hot popcorn.
Real talk, I was dubious about it. I wanted a new popcorn popper, and this random-ass silicon bowl was the highest-rated popcorn popper on Amazon. But for $12, I took a chance, and it works amazingly well. I have two now so that when I'm making large batches of popcorn I can swap them out of the microwave.
I never really liked any of the options in apps because they just sound weird to me. I also didn't want to have my phone broadcasting to a bluetooth speaker constantly all night. And we don't have an Alexa/Google Home (partner doesn't want one in the house).Has it been explained how these are necessary when there are a million other things you can use for white noise, including white noise apps on your phone or whatever? Do they produce better white noise or is it just a matter of convenience having a dedicated white noise machine?
Not that I've noticed, no.
Cable management box
There's different designs but this is what I use. This stops me from kicking the power strip and cables under my desk.
Has it been explained how these are necessary when there are a million other things you can use for white noise, including white noise apps on your phone or whatever? Do they produce better white noise or is it just a matter of convenience having a dedicated white noise machine?
I always assumed people just put box fans against the wall to make white noise, since that's what my friends do. Plus that way you also have a box fan for when you need ventilation, instead of a noise machine that only has one use. But maybe there's some disadvantage I'm not aware of.Has it been explained how these are necessary when there are a million other things you can use for white noise, including white noise apps on your phone or whatever? Do they produce better white noise or is it just a matter of convenience having a dedicated white noise machine?
That's pretty much what I do, although I usually point it at me since I like having air circulation around me when I sleep.I always assumed people just put box fans against the wall to make white noise, since that's what my friends do. Plus that way you also have a box fan for when you need ventilation, instead of a noise machine that only has one use. But maybe there's some disadvantage I'm not aware of.
No, and yes.
OMG this is a legit game changer. Wife and I just got them. We were skeptical at first but damn!
Got this a few days ago. It's legit. Skin is smoother and not as dry. I used regular wash cloths prior.
No, and yes.
Okay, it's technically an oven that circulates air, but the results come out totally different, even compared to convection ovens.
Link? Recommendations on one?
As someone without a car and with shops in walking distance I find this thing really damn useful:
(goes by the brand name Clax)
A foldable shopping trolley (folds down to the size of the bottom level and has small feet to stand on its side then, you can detach the wheels if you need it even smaller) that takes those standard folding boxes so you just shop with the trolley, push it home and detach the box to carry it up the stairs.