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If you have even an occasional gardener on your gift list, supplying the right item can inspire a deeper, more satisfying outdoor experience. I know I appreciate a thoughtful gardening gift, and never failed with handing one over. I’ve personally tested every product I’m about to recommend, and some of them had breakthrough benefits. Consider these options: Best planting tool: Radius Garden’s Rootslayer 22011 shovel  Serious gardeners/landscapers probably already have a favorite tool—one regularly stashed in their aprons, pockets, wheelbarrows or gripped tightly in their gloved hands. I thought I did, until I gave this 5-pound marvel a try on a full-southern-sun, high-humidity, 100° day, and OH MY WORD…it was a real game-changer. The multi-purpose, jagged-edge design not only rips through roots, it also plows through compacted clay and dirt, easily trenches for planting, and saws the soil contents with precision…eliminating the need for a separate hatchet, saw, spade, or smooth-sided shovel. And, hello carbon-steel teeth. Whoa! I mean, the tool designers call it an “assassin shovel” for a reason, folks. Radius Garden sells a series of Root Slayer products—trowel, soil knife, edger, mini-digger, drain spade, weeder, post hole digger—and most of them will wind up in my tool stash, I assure you. But start off your gardener/landscaper with the 22011, and inspire their inner ground assassin…which would look great on the gift tag, right? Best power tool: Zeeksaw’s Mini, Cordless, Super Handheld Chainsaw  This little battery-powered saw is a wonder! Its 6” blade cuts clean through those dead tree limbs too thick for a typical lopper and too small for a full-sized chainsaw. It’s lightweight (less than 2 lbs!), powerful, and suitable for right- and left-handers. A major plus is the portable toolbox holding everything you need—saw, batteries, charger, gloves, safety glasses, oil vessel…they’ve thought of everything. Their motto of “tree-pruning made easy” is spot on. Tap into your gardener’s inner lumberjack with this mini-tool. It’s the most user-friendly chainsaw I’ve ever powered up! Best water timer: Aqua Joe’s AJ-ET2Z Easy 2-Zone Electronic Timer  When it’s peak watering season, the last thing I want to do is run out into 100° heat and move hoses—and that’s why I set two zones in my backyard garden oasis with the Aqua Joe timer. This no-fuss system connects right to the outdoor tap, handles two separate hoses, and offers 13 preset programs. BUT, you can set your own watering duration and frequency to customize particular zones. Either way, it’s a “set it and forget it” beauty to let you sleep in, stay cool, and enjoy your gardens from air-conditioned comfort. And that’s an irrigation win! Best yard waste container: Fiskars’ Kangaroo Collapsible Garden Bag with Heavy Duty Hardshell Bottom  This 30-gallon reusable container is an upgrade from Fiskars’ previous model, with the hardshell bottom a significant improvement. I mean, I’ve bumped this garden bag over sharp rocks, tree roots, clumps of clay, and garden utensils without noticeable damage. I’ve left it outside in pouring rain, and the drain holes have done their job. Bonus: The fabric is mildew-resistant! When gardening season is over, I clean it out, collapse it back to a 22” disc, and store it away for an early spring. It’s simply ideal for yard waste. Buy it! Best hand/nail saver: Gardena’s Latex Gardening Gloves  I’ve tested a LOT of gardening gloves over the years and always return to Gardena’s brand. The latex-coated palm and fingers make them water-resistant, if not waterproof. Bonus: The latex stops most thorns from a painful stab. I enjoy the color variety in the five pairs, the stretchability, and endurance—even through a few machine washes! Great product for the price. Best foot/pedicure saver: DKSUKO’s Waterproof Garden Shoe  Truth bomb: You will never, EVER see me in a Croc. Not even privately. They are a trip-hazard for klutzy gardeners like me, and I find them…less than attractive. However, the flip-flop got me into so much gardening trouble I had to find another option. Hello, garden clog! I found the DKSUKO brand surprisingly comfortable for a rubber shoe. They’re lightweight, non-slip, basically waterproof (except the heel), and offer some needed support. They’re easy to clean and come in a variety of fun designs. Pro Tip: Order at least a half-size larger than your normal shoe size for the best fit. Best no-fail, easy-to-use plant fertilizer: Miracle-Gro’s 1013202 Watering Can Singles  I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve recommended these pre-measured fertilizer packets to self-described “lazy gardeners.” Plants need to be “fed” just like any growing thing, but they’re often starved due to fertilizer-to-water ratios, measuring utensils, math skills, trifocals to read the tiny print, etc. All those excuses go out the window with these convenient packets. If you have a watering can—or even a gallon jug—you simply dump the packet’s ingredients into the bottom, fill it with water, and feed your potted plants or 10 square feet of garden space every 1-2 weeks. No measurements or guessing or messes or excuses. Let the feeding begin! Best garden sign: Whitehall Products’ "The Kiss of The Sun" Garden Sign  I gifted this sign to a fellow gardener, but loved it so much I bought one for myself! I appreciate Dorothy Frances Gurney’s classy, poetic sentiment in such a sturdy, well-made piece of garden art. It brings a wonderful sense of sophistication amongst my hydrangeas. The green-and-gold plaque boasts an alumi-shield, all-weather coating for harsh weather that—so far!—withstands the tests of time and environmental elements. Gift a touch of meaningful sentiment in your gardeners’ landscapes with this beloved poem. Beautiful! Best nature calendar: National Audubon Society’s Birds Calendar 2025  A dear friend gifted me this delightful calendar many years ago, and now I gift myself with it each year! Every morning, I look forward to discovering a new bird from anywhere in the world—many I never knew existed. I appreciate the common and scientific names, the up-close, full-color photos, and the ability to use the reverse side as notepaper. Bonus: No binoculars required! Best outdoor furniture saver: VARIETYFACE’s Waterproof Patio Chair Covers  I stumbled across these chair covers online and opted for the lightweight fabric over heavy canvas. Boy, was I delighted with the water-resistant, UV-resistant material!
These covers have powered through heavy rain/snow, blowing cement/stone dust, gusting wind, and brutal southern sun. No fading, discoloration or cracking! A true delight is the adjustable hem cords for a custom fit because—hello!—patio chairs are so varied in size. Bonus: Buckle straps keep the covers securely in place when the wind picks up. Lightweight covers + dry furniture = patio win.
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Do you have an entrepreneur on your gift wish list? A friend or family member who has mad skills in a service or product outside of the regular 9-5 job? With a little gift ingenuity, you could help get that go-getter started on a side-hustling path! And then you’d have the thrill of knowing their success started with your thoughtfulness. SCORE!! I’ve personally tested every product I’m about to recommend, and some of them had breakthrough benefits. Consider these options: Best garden/landscape tool: Radius Garden’s Rootslayer 22011 shovel  Serious gardeners/landscapers pondering a side hustle will need tools. And they probably already have a favorite—one regularly stashed in their aprons, pockets, wheelbarrows or gripped tightly in their gloved hands. I thought I did, until I gave this 5-pound marvel a try on a full-southern-sun, high-humidity, 100° day, and OH MY WORD…it was a real game-changer. The multi-purpose, jagged-edge design not only rips through roots, it also plows through compacted clay and dirt, easily trenches for planting, and saws the soil contents with precision…eliminating the need for a separate hatchet, saw, spade, or smooth-sided shovel. And, hello carbon-steel teeth. Whoa! I mean, the tool designers call it an “assassin shovel” for a reason, folks. Radius Garden sells a series of Root Slayer products—trowel, soil knife, edger, mini-digger, drain spade, weeder, post hole digger—and most of them will wind up in my tool stash, I assure you. But start off your gardener/landscaper with the 22011, and inspire their inner ground assassin itching to rake in some dough. Best charcuterie board: Home Beets’ Square Acacia Wood Cutting Board with Handle  Anyone considering a catering side gig needs to learn how to design and fill a show-stopping charcuterie board. We’ve come a looooooong way from simply slapping meat and cheese onto a well-used, wooden cutting board that’s weathered stains, bleach, and—possibly—tapped a few bottoms. I feel you, frustrated moms! Charcuteries start with the board. It’s the foundation of a variety of feasts—bowls of olives and nuts, jars of wafer rolls, plates of chocolate, rivers of cured meats, chunks of cheese, a sprinkling of fruit—with the wood grain gradually revealed as guests graze. And that’s why this board is my go-to. It’s large enough (17” x 13”) and sturdy enough (1/2” thick) to bear the sweet-and-savory load, with a non-slip handle perfect for transporting the finished product. And the square design fits every charcuterie theme (all the rage!), ranging from FALLcuteries to fruit-and-chocolate to s’mores to holiday to breads-and-butters. Think of board design this way: If average cooks could put together a stunning board, why would they hire a caterer? They wouldn’t. So, get your budding caterer on the must-call list with this board. Best recording microphone: FIFINE USB Metal Condenser  If you have an emerging podcaster, YouTuber, audio-book reader, online-course teacher, singer or interviewer on your gift list, a professional recording microphone is a must. This one’s sleek, sturdy and affordable. It looks very high-end. And you know what other feature on this microphone wins the day? It’s plug and play. Now, this means nothing to you savvy electronics geniuses who never melt down when equipment or applications go haywire. But I’m a vortex of electronics despair. Bizarre equipment failures are almost routine. I can stare into a camera lens and the battery dies. So finding this FIFINE microphone that simply plugs into my laptop’s USB port was exhilarating. Bonus: It stands on a little tripod, ignores background noise, and features a 5.9’ cable. You’ll be a gifting hero, credited with getting your side-hustler’s voice out there, loud and professionally clear. Best massage instrument: OLsky Deep-Tissue Massage Gun  Maybe you know a masseuse or massage therapist who completed training, got the license, but never followed through on joining a salon. And the dream drifted away. Maybe becoming a concierge massager—one who goes to clients’ homes—could generate interest and earn some money on the side. Help kick-start that side-hustle dream with OLsky’s portable, rechargeable gun. I have this massage tool, and let me tell you: It’s awesome! With 9 massage heads and 30 speed levels, you can drill away leg, arm, back, torso and neck pain like a pro. OR…you could hand it over to an actual pro and let the inspiration roll. And check this: Professional salons use this gun for an up-charge! Every time! Best handyman ladder: HBTower Step Ladder with Handrails  Virtually everyone I know is looking for a reliable on-the-side handyman—usually for fairly simple tasks, like installing a chandelier, changing a beeping smoke alarm, painting, hanging art. You know—tasks requiring a sturdy ladder. The HBTower step ladder is what my personal, live-in, spousal handyman uses, and it’s available in 3-, 4-, and 5-step versions with an attachable tool bag. It’s collapsible, fairly light-weight, and transportable in a car/SUV vs. a truck. Perhaps you know a very handy man—or woman—who just needs a ladder to start a side hustle. Make it happen. Best laundry device: BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron, ICR2020  Do you know someone with incredible ironing skills? We’re talking sharp creases, a light touch with delicate fabrics, pleat perfection, crisp cuffs. Help exploit those skills with a serious tool, because being a concierge “presser”—one who travels to homes and irons, or a take-home ironer can earn some serious on-the-side cash. I did a lot of research before I settled on BLACK+DECKER’s Vitessa ICR2020. While I appreciated features like the SmartSteam technology, stainless-steel soleplate, and automatic shut-off, it was the tangle-free RETRACTABLE CHORD that sold me. I love to let that thing rip! Ironing is a heavily under-appreciated skill…until you’re desperate for a smooth collar. Inspire the talented ironer in your life with this tool. Then hand off a ruffled blouse for a test run. Best bartender gadget: TINANA 2.5 Inch Silicone Ice Ball Maker  Soooooo many parties I’ve catered or attended needed a bartender. Why? Because no guest wants to stand in a haphazard line to self-pour some room-temp sparkling wine into a plastic tumbler. If you know a hard worker with personality who just happens to have a liquor license, inspire that worker with TINANA’s ice ball maker. This gadget makes 12, 2.5” ice spheres at one time, in stackable trays, inside—wait for it—a portable large-capacity ice bin. Why is that important? Well, large ice cubes melt slowly in signature cocktails, keep drinks seriously cold, and look super-cool. Which makes the bartender super-cool. Which garners generous tips. Been there…saw it happen. Best cleaning device: Bissell Little Green Cleaners  Do you know a house cleaner looking for a niche side hustle? You should introduce them to the wonder of Bissell, offering a variety of affordable, portable carpet and upholstery cleaners any industrious worker can use: Cordless SmartMix, Multi-Purpose, Max Pet, Pro Portable, HydroSteam. But anyone could start with the petite Little Green model for home and auto carpets, and most furniture. I used this little marvel on a petsitting client’s rug, and her words to me were: “You should clean rugs professionally!!” Tempting… I like how this little sucker is transportable in a car/SUV, weighs a little less than 10 lbs, includes Bissell’s Spot & Stain formula with Febreze Freshness and features exclusive tools. Niche hustle + happy customers = wads of cash. Best driving tool: Ivation’s Plug-In Electric Cooler & Warmer  Some side hustles require serious time in a vehicle with little pause for personal pit-stops. Think: meals, snacks, beverages, medications. For those gig workers, consider gifting Ivation’s 27-quart (25 L) portable thermoelectric fridge with a 12-volt car adapter. It’s a travel marvel! With a flip of a switch, you can maintain drinks at an icy-cold 40°F OR hot food at a toasty 130°F. Let’s hear it for dual-function! Bonus: It’s quiet, safe, and weighs a little over 10 lbs. I give it 5 stars for convenience and ingenuity. Best book: "Queen of the Side Hustle: Unleashing Your Potential for Extra Income"  Shameless plus alert! Anyone considering a side hustle could use a little help getting started, am I right? Yes, I am…because I’ve been hustling for years in a variety of occupations, and I’m currently stacking SIX of those on a weekly basis. And I wrote a book to help other hustlers become a cash machine like me.
In 10 short, chatty chapters, side hustlers learn how to monetize their downtime the RIGHT way—finding their niche, honing their skills, managing their time, increasing their value…all whilst hurdling over obstacles like marketing and contracts and taxes and difficult clients. You know: Those little irritants making even the most-determined gig worker want to quit. Let’s not quit. Let’s make some cold, hard cash! Bonus: Each chatty chapter has accompanying, downloadable worksheets to inspire action. Available in print, digital and audio versions.  You may not like the taste of vinegar, but you might appreciate the versatility of this fermented grain alcohol. It’s natural, it’s affordable, and it solves many, many homestead problems. Let’s explore some common, everyday uses.
Soothe throats. Grandmothers and theatre people reach for the apple cider vinegar at the first sign of a sore throat. With both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, vinegar is a marvel at coating, soothing, and cutting through the phlegm. Mix 1 tsp with a cup of warm water and sip or gargle up to 3x/day. Add a drizzle of honey to sweeten the deal. Treat bug bites. Reduce the itch and burn of insect bites by dabbing apple cider vinegar onto the wound. The natural acidity neutralizes the venom AND disinfects the scratch marks you’ve already added. If you have baking soda on hand, dab it on to completely cover the sting, then add white vinegar to make a paste. Extend cut flower life. Kill off bacteria still growing in cut flowers with 2 Tb white vinegar in 1 quart/liter of water. Changing the water every few days also helps lengthen fresh-cut beauty. Bonus: Add 3 Tb sugar to your vinegar-water concoction to help feed the blooms. Kill weeds. Young, tender weeds/seedlings are susceptible to a direct spray of household vinegar. The same 5% acetic acid that neutralizes bug venom, also acts as a natural contact herbicide, effective within 24 hours. NOTE: Be selective with your spray, as vinegar kills ANY tender growth…not just weeds. Trap fruit flies. Conduct a science experience in your kitchen with a shallow bowl, 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, and a few drop of dish detergent. Cover with cling wrap, and poke holes into the top for flies to enter, land, and perish. Bonus: Add pieces of banana peel to sweeten the lure. Restore hair health. When you run out of conditioner, consider applying an occasional rinse of vitamins B- and C-rich apple cider vinegar instead! A simple 1:1 mixture of water to vinegar can remove dead skin/dandruff from your scalp, reduce itching from psoriasis or eczema, strengthen thinning hair, remove product buildup, and increase shine. Soften laundry. Replace pricey fabric softener with distilled white vinegar. Adding up to 1 cup to the softener dispenser or final rinse cycle deodorizes, breaks down excess detergent buildup, and leaves your laundry freshly and organically softer. Bonus: Vinegar prevents irritating static cling!  Hydrangeas are fast becoming the preferred summer-to-fall-blooming perennial in gardening zones 3-9, and for good reasons: They bloom profusely in a variety of colors, adapt to a variety of soil types, and require very little maintenance. But…you can’t really go crazy planting around them. Why not?
Poet Robert Frost was onto something in 1914 when he wrote: “Good fences make good neighbours.”
Sage advice. I started the “good neighbor” trend between neighbors to the Northeast and Northwest by planting trios of Green Giant arborvitae/thuja to naturally “box in” my backyard. These dense, fluffy, fast-growing trees make magnificent privacy fences year round, shading the deck in brutal, southern-summer heat and looking postcard perfect with dustings of Christmas snow. When one neighbor installed a garish orange-red wooden fence several years ago, I was beyond thankful the Green Giants would block that view in a single growing year. With a mature height of 50-60 feet and spread of 12-20 feet, these deer-resistant beauties “fluff out” in a way that makes the backyard feel like a secret garden, whilst providing wild-life hiding places. They are truly magical. Buy the largest starter you can afford, then plant in a well-spaced row or alternate in V-shapes for a thicker hedge. With visible growth of 3 or more feet/year, you’ll want to companion-plant trees at quite a distance or wait to install until your arborvitae’s mature growth is achieved.  Dinner Party Rule #1: Prepare Your Best Recipe!
Fresh out of college and living in my first solo apartment, I felt like a “real” grownup. I had stacks of stoneware dishes. I had matching silverware and glassware. I had placemats and tablecloths and candleholders. I had all this grownup dining paraphernalia because just a year earlier I’d been a runaway bride. But that’s a different story. I knew how to set a pretty table and make guests feel welcome. So why did I think I could just whip up anything on the stove? Why?? It was a third date, and I’d generously invited the new man in my life to a home-cooked meal. “Let’s do Chinese!” I blurted. He thought that was a great idea and said, “I love egg drop soup!” The smile froze on my face and we set a time for his arrival. And then I freaked out. Because I’d never attempted egg drop soup, had no time to perfect the dish, and didn’t want to fail at my first-ever, adult dinner party. So I did the only thing I could do: I called a college roommate and savvy cook for help. And this was the plan we devised: I’d tackle dressing the table and the beef stir-fry. She’d tackle the soup and fried rice. I bought the pre-made fortune cookies. When he arrived, she’d slip out the back whilst I answered the front doorbell. And the dinner went off exactly as planned. I wasn’t even sweating. And I learned a valuable lesson that night: Just offer and cook what you’re comfortable making. This would be a signature dish, like meatloaf or spaghetti or chicken pot pie or a crockpot stew. Don’t be fancy. Don’t be clever. Be comfortable with your meal, so your guests will be equally comfortable. Because, bonus tip: If you’re sweating when you answer the door, no one will want to eat your soup. Sometimes we can struggle to buy gifts for the men in our lives, but there's really no need to over think it. When it comes to gifts for men, focus on your man’s hobbies and habits. For example:
Does he grill? It’s no secret men love meat and fire—often at the same time!—so grilling gifts are a win. Consider these options:
Is he artsy? If you know an artist, consider a word tree. Choose meaningful names of people, places and events from your relationship, and shape them into a tree on canvas. People form the roots, places shape the trunk, and branches show off events. Bonus: Use his favorite color for text or background, then frame it! Does he enjoy a good bourbon? Maybe he’s a wine connoisseur or beer snob. Indulge him with a year’s subscription to a bourbon- or wine- or beer-of-the month club! These options vary wildly in price, so treat him to what you can afford. Bonus: Present this monthly gift with a “flight” kit. That way, he’ll be ready to show off his collection with a group tasting!  Have you ever looked around your living space and thought, ‘I’m so tired of this…’? It was probably just fine five years ago when you moved in or the kids were little or you were going through that orange phase. But now…meh. Or even…ick.
You know what you need? A redesign. Not a remodel—too expensive, too irritating and, possibly, too risky. A redesign leaves the walls, windows, electrical and floors right where they are. They just get a little “tweak.” For this concept, you’ll need a cohort in design. Do you have a friend whose living space always looks crisp, up-to-date, and in need of zero alteration? That’s the person you’ll want to ask for help. If you’re tired of your stale space, that friend is most certainly tired of it, too! In fact, this may be just the opportunity they’ve been waiting for. Once you’ve chosen the space (living room, master bedroom, office are great options) and you’ve lined up your redesign cohort, you’re ready for these next five steps: Step 1: Clear out everything from the room. Yes, everything—the furniture, the rugs, the drapes, any art or knickknacks on the walls. Every single part of that room should look like someone is about to move in. Because after this redesign, you will! Set aside any item you absolutely must have in that room—like family portraits, seating, and heirloom pieces. Everything else should be boxed up for storage or donation. You must, as that irritating song reminds us, “let it go.” Step 2: Clean, clean, clean. You want every surface—walls, baseboards, floors mantles—to be squeaky clean before you make another move. At this point, the space will look and smell so fresh you might just decide to set up a tent for some overnight glamping. Step 3: Paint. If your funds are extremely limited, paint just one wall. If you have a discount option near you (like Habitat for Humanity‘s Restore), you can often buy unopened surplus paint for a pittance. If you’re not dead set on a specific color, this option is for you. And then you can afford to paint every wall! Step 4: Release the space to your design cohort. And “release” in this scenario means you leave the house for a determined amount of time and cut your designer friend loose. This sounds risky, but a trusted friend knows your style and what you won’t accept or find outrageous. Bonus: Hand over $100 for your friend to use however they wish—window coverings, open shelving, paint, design bits and bobs. Provide no limitations on what this designer wants to do! Then go drown your nervousness in a cup of overpriced coffee. Go ahead and get the pastry. Step 5: Revel in the reveal! Yes, the reveal feels and looks just like those moments on TV. You walk in a little nervous about the space and squeal with joy when you see it all reimagined. You might actually be shocked with furniture and art placement. You’ll find yourself saying, over and over, “I never would have thought to do that!” Keep in mind: If you’re a bit of a knickknack hoarder, the new space might look a little empty. Live with it for a week before you add back some clutter. If the windows feel naked without drapes, try low-level lighting to soften the sudden brightness. If the furniture arrangement feels completely unfamiliar, use the room in different ways, for different purposes. Not only is a redesign affordable, it drags you out of a design rut. In as little as two days, you and your space can be refreshed and ready for the next adventure. Now, about that patio…  So, you found the ideal home in a great neighborhood but…ohhhh…the kitchen is really small. And you have excellent culinary skills. And lots of cooking gear. What do you do now? You make it work with a lot of organization and some helpful products, like:
Tips for keeping pantry food fresh longer Remember that time you pulled out your trusty box of Bisquick to whip up dinner biscuits…and they didn’t rise? And company was on their way? I do. Turns out the yeast had expired in my mix—which had also expired. I thought that mix would last forever but—surprise!—it doesn’t. Its shelf life is decent, but the leavening and oil ingredients can, and did, deteriorate. Which begs the question: What other pantry staples have shorter shelf lives than you think? And how do you extend the usage time? Consider these:
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Christine SchaubA Michigan farm girl transplanted to the South offering hospitality hacks. Categories
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