Last year, on October Prime Day, I finally caved and treated myself to a Kindle Paperwhite (the 2023 version), and boy, am I glad I did. For starters, I always thought of myself as someone who preferred physical books over e-books. There’s just something SO exciting to me about unboxing a book order or walking into a bookstore and spending way too much money. I even spent two years creating a rainbow library on my bookshelf in my apartment. BUT! After taking two vacations last year and realizing how annoying it was to choose which physical book I should take with me and not wanting to pack more than one or two because of the added weight, I decided to just get myself a Kindle. First of all, I am reading SO much more on my Kindle than I ever have before (seriously, I set a 50-book goal on Goodreads earlier this year, and I’m actually on track to reach my goal for the first time ever!!!) Second (and most importantly), it’s SO unbelievably lightweight. I brought it on a trip to Cabo over the summer, and it was so nice to know I was bringing numerous books with me, all downloaded onto this e-reader. PLUS!!! It was nice not having to worry about pool water ruining physical book pages or glare preventing me from seeing the screen. I also bring it with me for my train rides from my home in the suburbs into the city. It fits into my belt bag (!!!), so I’m able to occupy my time on my commute by getting through my TBR! Finally! It’s truly such a great investment. I had access to three free months of Kinde Unlimited which meant access to tons of great books for free, but the best is Libby! I just go on the Libby app from my phone, choose a Kindle book to check out through my local library, and boom, it’s instantly delivered to my Amazon account to add to my Kindle library. It’s safe to say I’m obsessed.
Promising review: “My husband and I both enjoy a quiet bath to ourselves at times and having this pillow is so nice. It’s so cozy to lay on and we even take it with us if we are staying in a hotel that has a big tub in the room.” — Cassandra M.
Promising review: “My 15-year-old asked for these after seeing them on TikTok. I got them as a stocking stuffer, thinking they’d be tossed aside. Unbelievably, he and his 17-year-old brother have spent time lying on the floor, tossing them up to the ceiling and waiting for them to fall so they can catch them. I never expected them to get this much use. Bonus is they’re off their phones and in the family room with us.” — Amazon Customer
Promising review: “Just got this puzzle for something to do at home over the holidays. Seriously…I have never seen a puzzle quite like this! It’s very impressive and exceeded my expectations already. The packaging is beautiful inside and out. Everything about it shouts quality. I particularly liked the envelopes inside for the puzzle pieces and mystery. Heavyweight and substantial. The one holding the 1,000 puzzle pieces stays closed with Velcro! How cool! And the secret mystery envelope has a cool string loop tie. Makes you remember you can’t open it until the puzzle is done. The whole vibe of The Mystic Maze is quality and fun and it also looks like a challenging puzzle. Looking forward to getting started on this. Certainly a good stay-home fun activity. Highly recommend!” — Kyle Fletcher
KC Cups is a woman-owned small biz based in Kansas that sells personalized engraved tumblers.
Promising review: “I got these cuties for two of my friends who bought houses in late 2020 with their cities personalized on them. Basically no one is as obsessed with Housewives as I am, but lots of our group chats entail rehashing the latest eps (except RHOC bc, let’s face it, it’s awful). So when my colleague Heather Braga put this tumbler in her gifts for Bravo fans, I couldn’t wait to order them. They’ve both received them and LOVE them. One friend cried! But a good cry.” — Elizabeth Lilly, BuzzFeed Editor
Promising review: “Bought these so I wouldn’t have to sift through my tote bag anymore. These make things easier, efficient and I don’t have to deal with the anxiety over whether or not I’ve misplaced or lost anything. I don’t use them for cosmetics, but they are still helpful nonetheless.” — Kristen
Sun Sprinkles Shop is a small biz based in Saint Johns, Michigan, that sells vases, earrings, stickers, and more!
Promising review: “Excellent quality and super fast shipping! It’s such a gorgeous and unique piece. As other reviews mentioned, please make sure you note the sizing before buying — this vase is for baby flowers, which I LOVEEE!” — jferro93
JW Pei is a husband-and-wife-founded, Asian-owned small biz based in Los Angeles that sells minimal accessories made with vegan materials.
Promising review: “This bag is so gorgeous in person. The quality is amazing and I love that it comes in a box and with a dust bag. Definitely will be buying more.” — Shay M.
Promising review: “Best decision! These are the greatest headphones ever! I saw them on TikTok months ago and added them to my wishlist. I got a new phone that doesn’t have the headphone port so I decided it was time to finally buy them. They are amazing and I probably won’t ever take them out of my ears! 😂” — Kate Arnold
It also comes with a milk frother you can use to make lattes and cappuccinos!
Promising review: “I am really enjoying my new Nespresso machine. I have used it to make regular cups of coffee and also to make lattes. The frother that came with it works great! It makes both hot and cold froth! I also bought a pod holder that you can put the machine on top of, and I’m really glad I’ve got that storage space for the pods. I’ve had my machine for a couple of weeks now, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in a pod type of machine. It makes way better-tasting coffee than my previous machine did.” — K Dunn
Promising review: “My best friend is always telling me new facts about the most random things, so when I saw this, I knew it had to be added to his bookshelf. And let me tell you, the list of random facts keeps on coming. Yeah, yeah, I know…the internet…but sometimes it’s nice to disconnect from technology and read a real book. Couldn’t be happier with this purchase.” — Gregory
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Seven Grams Caffé is a small biz and independent coffee roaster/bakery based in NYC that boasts delicious cookies, coffee, and baked goods available for purchase online or in store if you happen to be in Manhattan! Get them in sets of six or 12.
I was lucky enough to receive a sample of these delicious cookies last year and was blown away from the first bite. The cookies are HUGE, perfectly chewy with just enough crispiness around the edges, bursting with chocolatey goodness, and I honestly couldn’t even tell they were vegan. No joke, these are some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve ever had. I can’t recommend these enough as a gift to loved ones, but also to yourself. Because you’re gonna be putting in all of the hard work finding the perfect gifts to send people, you really deserve to treat yourself, too!
The Print Republic is a small biz based in Sydney, Australia and sells a gorgeous assortment of downloadable art prints. Just so you know, you’re purchasing the prints to download, so you’ll still need to decide how you’d like to print, frame, and arrange them!
Promising review: “Decided on these beautiful prints to frame in my eat-in kitchen. Seller was helpful and quick to respond to my questions. I had them printed on card stock at Staples and they came out better than I expected! I am so pleased with the final result.” — slupo682
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Be sure to check out our Orolay down jacket review!
Promising review: “Very warm and cute. I am actually obsessed with this jacket. I stopped a woman on the street to asked her where she got hers. I immediately ordered one. I wasn’t sure what size to get so I ordered the small and medium. I am smaller on the top so actually the small was better because I could open up the zippers on the side.” — Susan Alexander
Promising review: “Absolutely my favorite thing purchased from Amazon. You will never be able to take a shower without this once you have it. Just like right-out-of-the-dryer towels!” — Erin
Promising review: “I really like this lap desk. As a PhD student, I’m on my computer A LOT. On weekends when I have work to do, it’s nice to not have to get out of bed so it still feels like a lazy Saturday.” — Anne
Promising review: “I love him. He is so cute and so well-made. He is the perfect size and shape. I named him Banana Peel Son since his wool comes off like a banana peel. Adorable. Would recommend to everyone.” — Aerebys Stare
Promising review: “This beanie is perfect for curly and wavy girls! The entire inside is satin-lined. When I took the hat off, it did not cause any damaged or frizzy curls! I am in love and need more colors!” — Crystal Ingram
Check out my colleague’s Beast Blender review!
Promising review: “I got this blender over the summer, and wow, as someone who had firmly decided I was an ‘I don’t need a blender’ person, I quickly changed my mind after the first use. For starters, it’s not as large as those super industrial-strength blenders, and it’s so aesthetically pleasing that I have it out on my counter at all times. Plus, it couldn’t be easier to use — just fill the bowl with your ingredients, pulse, and in a matter of moments you’ll have a perfectly uniform blend of whatever you’re trying to blitz. I first tried it out on a smoothie made with frozen bananas and peaches (see it in action on TikTok here!), and it pulverized the icy fruit like a champ. Best of all? It’s a total breeze to clean, which, if I’m being honest, was probably the biggest factor in my having waited so long to add a blender to my kitchen arsenal. I can’t recommend it enough, 15/10, no notes.” — Britt Ross, former BuzzFeed writer
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I joined Book of the Month two years ago because I wanted to read People We Meet on Vacation and my local library had a waitlist. I thought I’d sign up for one month and cancel my subscription right after, but I am here to say that was not the case. I LOVE my BOTM subscription and can’t recommend it enough.
At the start of each month, they add five to seven new books to the app. These books span all sorts of genres, include reads from new authors and returning favorites, and some even have a theme (aka: spooky reads for October, holiday reads in December). You can choose up to three books per month. All three of your selections can be from that month’s book picks or you can pick a book or two from that month’s selections and choose add-on books — I’ve been doing this lately as I’m working on creating my own little home library bookshelf. If you don’t like any of their monthly selections that is A-OK! Simply skip that month and a credit will be applied towards future months.
It’s such a fun thing to treat myself to each month and makes for a perfect gift (both to yourself and to loved ones). Happy reading!
Turkish Dowry is a small biz based in Turkey that sells towels, blankets, velvet bedspreads, and more. The shop offers free shipping on orders over $35.
Promising review: “Absolutely gorgeous blanket! This is my second purchase from this shop (and this blanket), and I love my order! The blankets are beautifully made. I can’t believe how quickly the blankets arrived too! Turkey to Oregon in two to three days after ordering!!! I’ve already placed a third order!” — Joanna C
I bought this for my mom as part of a Mother’s Day gift a few years back, and I’ll be honest, I’ve gotten a lot more use out of it. It’s so easy to use; I didn’t even have to glance at the instructions, and, I mean, come on, when you’re in the mood to kick back and sip a glass of pinot at the end of a long day, who feels like reading a manual? Not I! You literally just twist the pourer onto the decanter, stick the decanter spout into the bottle, and then pour it into your glass. It’s cool because you can literally see the bubbles forming at the top from it being aerated. I did a taste test to see if I could actually tell the difference or if this was just a phony claim… and it works. It really, actually works. It uses an air intake system to ensure an optimal amount of oxygen!
Promising review: “Purchased this as a gift for my mom. She opened it yesterday, and we used it to aerate our wine for the rest of the day. Easy to use, and the wine tasted fantastic! We did a little taste test with nonaerated wine straight from the bottle versus wine from the same bottle poured through this aerator, and there was a noticeable difference. Can’t beat it for the price.” — Amazon Customer
Promising review: “These are amazing slippers. A strong enough sole to go run errands in and incredibly warm and comfortable. Super soft inside. I have a scar on the side of my foot, so width is always a concern, and these do not bother me at all.” — Ortiz Family
Stillwater Bath and Body is a family-owned small biz selling an array of deliciously wonderful candles!
Promising review: “Something about giving a personalized gift makes it just that much more special and meaningful. I knew I had picked the right one when my friend called me and was excitedly reading her astrological message. She said a lot of it resonated with her, which we both thought was really cool. She also mentioned loving the scent and the candle’s design. Now I want to order more!” — SG
Promising review: “This puzzle book is perfect. I took it on a plane and was able to complete multiple puzzles before we landed. I am not Einstein, but it wasn’t too hard or too easy. I would def buy another one.” — Whenpigsflyaway
It can also connect to their device via cable. Check out our Bluetooth karaoke mic write-up.
Promising review: “Oh my gosh, I love this! I got mine in the mail yesterday and ended up playing with it for about five hours last night, LOL. It connects via Bluetooth, so you can connect it to your phone — the music and your singing comes out of the microphone’s speaker. It has a volume control for your voice and for the music and also an echo feature. You can put an SD card into the bottom of it and record yourself, or connect it with an audio out to record on one of those karaoke apps on your phone. Between this and being able to find just about any song on karaoke via YouTube, you could easily have your own karaoke parties at home!” — Ferretocious
The standard size is designed to fit wearers from 4′ 11″ to 5′ 11″. There is also an extended length version.
Promising review: “I gifted this to my granddaughter for Christmas. She was so surprised when she opened it. She absolutely loves this. She wears it around her college dorm to stay warm! So cute and soft.” — bam Shaka laka
Promising review: “I give 1 star…hardcover is too hard. Just kidding! I give this 5 stars. Without a doubt, this is my favorite coffee table book and, surprisingly, also super educational. The perfect combination of sassy and informative while poking fun at 1-star reviews of some amazing national parks. I love, love all the added educational snippets along with the review illustrations. And Amber’s writing style is so personal and relatable I feel like we could be friends. Such a fun book, so worth the buy!” — Anna
All the parts are dishwasher-safe!
Promising reviews: “I saw one of these in action at a friend’s house like five years ago and thought it was just a made up memory, because making ice cream out of solely frozen fruit seems wild. But when I saw a TikTok about it I immediately went to Amazon and bought it. Literally this was the BEST decision of my life. I cannot believe still how amazing this thing is! It makes the creamiest, best tasting fruit ice cream ever. It’s easy to take apart and clean, and super easy to use.” — DMCKAY
Promising review: “For Trader Joe’s lovers everywhere, this is a fantastic cookbook! It is filled with hints and tips, shopping guidelines, nicely organized recipe categories, and beautiful mouthwatering pictures. I love how the recipes noted whether they are gluten-free or vegetarian, etc. I ❤ Trader Joe’s and I ❤ this cookbook!” — Love My Bookish Life
Promising review: “I love this little speaker — it lives right on my bookshelves (without taking up basically any room) and fills my apartment with high-quality sound. The lil’ portable size is perfect, so I can grab it and take it into the kitchen for baking jams™ or into my bathroom for my latest in-shower karaoke session (sorry, neighbors). It’s adorable, but the sound is crisp, powerful, and well-rounded. Pairing it with my phone was incredibly easy, and it reconnects almost instantly as soon as I turn it on, so it’s super user-friendly. I also barely ever have to charge it, which is important to me. And yes, that is a Jane Austen action figure next to it.” — Maitland Quitmeyer, BuzzFeed Editor
Urban Kangaroo is a woman-owned small biz that sells DIY beauty and personal care kits. This kit comes with food-grade citric acid, baking soda, and Himalayan salt, essential oil blends, grapeseed oil, a spray bottle, aluminum bath bomb molds, bath bomb stickers and wrapping paper, and step-by-step instructions. Yields about 15 bath bombs!
Promising review: “So much fun making them at home! You can customize these to become literally any color or scent imaginable. Everything comes packed neat and organized.” — Amazon Customer
My colleague Jenae Sitzes loves this TV backlight! Here’s her review:
“My boyfriend recently surprised me by upgrading my TV setup with this backlight, and I’ve been so impressed with its performance already, especially when watching movies or playing video games. It’s important to follow the instructions closely to ensure the color-matching looks correct (and Govee has a great instructional video on this), but we had no issues. The setup includes light strips that go around the back of your TV and a camera that subtly hangs over your TV at the top, which might seem weird at first, but it doesn’t cover your screen at all, and you forget it’s there in no time.
The VIBES are simply unmatched whenever this backlight is turned on. One of the first things we put on to test it was Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour on Disney+, and it really lived up to the promise of immersion, extending out all of the incredible lighting production almost like it was happening in my living room. I posted a clip of it on my Instagram Stories and had one person message me, “Wow, it’s like you’re at the show.” It really was (and I didn’t even have to drop $300+ for the experience).
I have several other Govee products (and this backlight incorporates with them all seamlessly via the Govee app), but this is easily my favorite piece of lighting I’ve bought from them yet. As a night owl myself, I highly recommend it for anyone who spends much of their evening hours parked in front of the TV!”
Promising review: “I was surfing on Amazon and came across these handbag sets. I was really impressed with how well they were made when I received them. They shipped quickly and the price for the set was very reasonable. I would recommend these. The color is true to the picture.” — The Pink Gurl
It comes with a hard cheese knife, a chisel knife, and a cheese fork, and the board features a pullout drawer to store them!
Promising review: “As a huge Disney nerd, this was just one of those things that I just had to have for our new house! Can’t wait to use it. The quality is absolutely amazing. The cute little tools inside the drawer each have a small Mickey head on the handles. This will look so good on our countertop with our other Disney/Mickey kitchen decor items.” — Desiree Light
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Ideal Bookshelf is a small biz based in Maui, Hawaii that sells all sorts of wonderful goods any bookworm will enjoy.
Promising review: “My print was even better than I’d hoped! The art is absolutely beautiful and the print and frame are both very high quality. I couldn’t be happier with it and have recommended it to friends. The person I gifted it to absolutely loved it. It also arrived even faster than I expected, which was great because I couldn’t wait.” — Emily
Auré is a small biz based in Surprise, Arizona and sells custom pillows and nature-inspired decor.
Promising review: “Adorable!! The pillow came out perfectly, and is so soft! It’s is a birthday gift for my sister and I haven’t given it to her just yet, but I know she’s going to love it. Customer service was also great — very responsive and friendly. Will definitely be ordering from them again!” — Caitlin Hinz
Promising review: “Love the recipes and the variety: simple, complex, sweet, tart, bitter, etc. The literary puns were spot-on, and I liked the idea that the drink could match both the themes at work in the story and sometimes even the literary criticism surrounding the novel. The suggested games at the end were very funny, and the illustrations also added to the whole presentation.” — Spilt Over
Promising review: “This assembled in a jiffy and looks great in my window. So glad I chose it for the future home of my herb garden. The pots are a good size and the cord looks sturdy and is generously sized (you can just wrap around the bar a few times to shorten). Note that there are no holes in the pots, if you’re looking for drainage. But of course, that’s why baby Jesus made power tools.” — Cautionary Tales
Promising review: “Bought these for my girlfriend and she said they are BETTER then Lush’s bath bombs. We used one together and they smell great, leave your skin smooth, and most do not contain glitter. These bombs are a little bit smaller than Lush bombs but there was no difference in terms of color, scent, or skin softening. You could put Lush on this box and not even recognize a difference. These are quality bombs, if you are looking for a gift for someone or looking to use bath bombs yourself, buy these, you will not regret it.” — Amazon Customer
Paper Peach Shop is a small biz based in Indianapolis, Indiana that sells stamps, wedding planners, vow books, guestbooks, and more!
Promising review: “As a reader who’s built a sizable book collection, I love the idea of making my copies really my own in this regal way. Much cooler than simply writing your name! It feels so official stamping every single book. Can you imagine? Decades later, when my descendants look through my home library and see all my books stamped like this, how splendid that would be? I’ll tell you: very.” — Nusrat Sultana, former BuzzFeed writer
