Hello Friends,
This edition of the newsletter features my holiday gift 🎁 guides. I included my top picks for 2022 followed by more specific gift guides. I think experience gifts like a nice meal, tickets to a concert, or homemade desserts are excellent ideas. But the best, most loving gift you can give someone is your time and undivided attention. Presence is, indeed, the best present.
P.S., This issue is packed. You may need to read it in the browser or hit “Expand” to see the entire newsletter.
Please feel free to comment if you have questions, responses, or brilliant ideas or if you feel like sharing a favorite recipe, restaurant, or anything else.
You can also email me 💌 marlayoung@mac.com.
If you are a ✨ new subscriber, check out the archives here, including travel guides.
Here's to a beautiful holiday season!
Find me on Instagram | Pinterest
To-Do List
WATCH 🎬
1923 (Paramount+): Taylor Sheridan’s latest Yellowstone origin story stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren as Jacob and Cara Dutton debuts December 18. The action picks up on familiar grounds in Montana, where fans will see the beginnings of the Dutton homestead that is now featured in Yellowstone.
The Menu (Theaters): A couple travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.
Pepsi Where’s My Jet (Netflix): The four-part series explores the real-life David vs. Goliath tale between Pepsi and a 20-year-old college student. here to read more about the seven most bizarre revelations from the series.
Wednesday (Netflix): An Addams family spinoff starring Wednesday Addams. It’s a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday’s years as a student at the peculiar Nevermore Academy.
Inspired Interiors with Sarah Sherman Samuel (Magnolia Network): Having recently moved from Los Angeles, Sarah Sherman Samuel balances work and family while designing inspiring homes and furniture as she re-establishes her design studio in her home state of Michigan.
George and Tammy (Showtime): Country music fans, rejoice: country singers Tammy Wynette and George Jones are given their due in the new musical drama George and Tammy. The six-episode series follows the duo amid their rocky careers and even rockier love affair. George and Tammy are played by Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain.
READ 📚
A Heart That Works by Rob Delaney: Comedian Rob Delaney writes about the death of his young son.
The Queen: Her Life by Andrew Morton: An in-depth look at Britain’s longest reigning monarch, exploring the influence Queen Elizabeth had on both Britain and the rest of the world for much of the last century.
The Science of Spice by Dr. Stuart Farrimond: Transform your dishes from bland and boring to punchy and flavorsome with this definitive guide to spices. I’ve never seen so many five-star reviews.
LISTEN 🎧
Dr. Peter Attia #242: Optimizing sleep/ bedtime routine, molecule regimen, sleep trackers, sauna, & more: In this episode, Dr. Attia answers a number of questions on optimizing sleep. He describes his pre-bedtime routine, how he utilizes a sauna, and his current regimen of medicines and supplements for improving sleep time and quality. He goes in-depth on each of the molecules that have shown promise in boosting sleep. Peter also discusses sleep wearables, including both the positives and potential negatives of using such trackers, and much more.
Privacy Security Podcast Ep. 285 Travel Security: I picked up some great tips in this episode all about travel safety and security.
Primeaux Wellness Podcast: Erin Primeaux sits down with Dr. Mignonne Mary of the New Orleans Remedy Room to discuss NAD+ therapy, high-dose Vitamin C, and the wellness benefits of both. Dr. Mary is an amazing doctor in New Orleans. (Skip ahead to the 13:00 minute mark.)
Just Thinking Podcast # 121: A Biblical Theology of Suffering: According to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, believers in Jesus Christ are to “give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” But does ‘everything’ include giving thanks to God when we suffer? (Skip ahead to the 15:00 minute mark.)
Christmas Music Favorites:
Happiness is Christmas by Kristin Chenoweth
Christmas at Home by Michael Buble
DOWNLOAD 📱
Grab (App): The Grab app lets you order food from your phone and avoid the long airport food line when you pick up your food.
SURF 🌐
BAKE 🥧
Baking the Best of Mary Lee’s Desserts by Mary Lee Montfort: A lifelong professional baker. Mary Lee is known for her amazing cupcakes, old-fashioned layer cakes, signature cakes, an array of cookies, bars, and tartlets, plus all of the morning treats and specialty goodies that she designed for Bards Alley Bookstore and Cafe.
THE HOTLIST ✨ My meticulously curated travel recommendations.
Washington, D.C.
Labyrinth Puzzles and Games carries a large inventory of puzzles and games for all ages.
Columbus, Ohio
Parable Parable is my favorite coffee shop in Columbus.
Gift Guides
My Top Picks for 2022
Ratio Six Coffee Maker: Ratio Six comes in three different colors; white, black, and stainless steel. I love the white design. The Ratio Six Coffee Maker simulates a skilled barista pour-over process, precisely metering water flow through both the bloom and brew phases. It’s a top-rated product.
Turkey and the Wolf Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans: This is a fun cookbook with mouth-watering Southern recipes from Chef Mason Hereford’s popular restaurant Turkey and the Wolf in New Orleans.
Foot Massager: It’s the best foot massager.
Catbird Ring: Catbird is one of my favorite jewelry stores in New York.
Bartesian Cocktail Maker: With the Bartesian cocktail Maker, you can experience the quality ingredients and premium pours you'd expect from a cocktail lounge. See my list of alcohol-free spirits here.
Negroni Candle: The bittersweet scents of pink grapefruit and orange blossom, are balanced with aromatic citrus oils & cardamom to form a fragrance emblematic of the golden hour of Aperitivo.
Stanley Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler 40 OZ: I’ve purchased many water bottles over the years. This one is my favorite.
Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ’Em from the Award-Winning Bar: From the foremost figure on the New Orleans' drinking scene and the owner of renowned bar Cure, a cocktail book that celebrates the vibrant city.
Apple Watch Band: My favorite Apple watch band.
Solo Stove Outdoor Fire Pit: It’s easy to light with an almost smoke-free burn.
Inku Cocktail Glasses by Sergio Herman for Serax: They are delicate, tulip-shaped glasses. They are so popular and sell out fast.
Hatch Restore: It’s a bedside lamp, a sound machine, and a sunrise alarm all in one compact device.
Cuyana Slim Wrislet Wallet: For the woman on the go, this wallet comes with a detachable wristlet and pocket for your phone. I like to add monogramming for a personal touch.
Riemot Travel Cup Holder: The perfect gift for a flight attendant or pilot. This luggage drink holder, can "hold" your coffee, water, or any beverage hands-free without spilling.
Ooni Pizza Oven: This pizza oven makes a delicious pizza.
Hoka Bondi 8 Running Shoes: The most comfortable running shoe.
CLQ Chair: It’s the best portable chair. Weighs less than your average beach and camping chair. This lounge chair rapidly packs up to the size of a water bottle.
Mosser Glass Mixing Bowl Set deserves to be displayed on the opening shelving.
100 Cookies by Sarah Kieffer is the perfect gift for those who love to bake cookies.
Mosser Jadeite Glass Cake Stand is the best way to display a beautiful cake.
The Fearless Baker by Erin Jean McDowell is full of simple secrets for baking like a pro.
Hedley and Bennet Aprons are my favorite aprons designed by a chef. I have a polka-dot and denim design. These are the BEST aprons.
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer in copper or rose gold will look stunning on a kitchen countertop.
Gold Measuring Spoons are an especially chic gift.
Cookbook and Tablet Stand perfectly props up everything from big, glossy cookbooks to magazines and tablets.
Great Jones Baking Dish is one of my best buys this year. It makes cleanup easy. It comes with a silicone baking sheet.
Gir Silicone Spatula is the best spatula for scraping bowls.
Sweet Laurel Bakery Vanilla Extract and Chocolate Cake Mix are the perfect gifts for paleo and gluten-free bakers. Most vanilla extracts are made with starch-based alcohol, but Sweet Laurel’s organic vanilla extract is 100% paleo and made with organic small-batch tequila. This unique vanilla extract is perfect for all of your baking needs. The Chocolate Cake Mix is delicious.
Bakers Gonna Bake Sweatshirt is soft and comfy.
Peg and Awl Step Stool is exceptionally handy around the house.
Breville Smart Oven Air is the best countertop oven. Simply select the desired function, and an internal sensor automatically calculates the time required for perfect results.
Stainless Steel Instant Read Oven Thermometer allows you to measure the exact internal temperature of your oven to ensure even more exact cook times and results.
Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish features recipes for world-class bread and pizzas.
Flavor Flours is the latest masterpiece by dessert queen Alice Medrich. The book features 125 recipes and instructions on baking with various wheat flour alternatives. I think it is a great gift for the gluten-free baker.
The Bread Baker’s Pocket Companion by Andrew Janjigian is the perfect gift for the bread baker. It is a portable, pocket version of conversion tables, formulas, and recipes along with loads of other tips for useful for bread baking.
Whisk pendant charm is a cute gift idea.
Huckleberry Stories, Secrets, and Recipes From Our Kitchen features 115 recipes from the popular bakery in Santa Monica, California.
Mosser Jadeite Glass Cake Stand is the best way to display a beautiful cake.
SILPAT Non-Stick Baking Mat prevents cookies from sticking. It is a must-have item for a baker.
Rosalie Stainless Steel Whip is ideal for blending ingredients and beating eggs.
Monterey Moderne Batter Bowl is smooth-sided and has a wide mouth for easy pouring. I use the batter bowl for making pancakes.
SWEET by Valerie Gordon includes recipes from Valerie Confections in Los Angeles, California. It is a beautiful and inspiring cookbook.
KitchenAid 11-Wire Whip is a mixer attachment for lighter, fluffier whipped cream, egg whites, and cake batters.
The Baking Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum is a comprehensive baking guide and includes recipes for the best cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, candies, pastries, bread, and more.
Zenker Layer Cake Slicing Kit will help create an impressive multi-layer cake.
Hedley and Bennet Aprons are my favorite aprons designed by a chef. I have a polka-dot and denim design. These are the BEST aprons.
Madein Bread Knife is the best bread knife.
Pizza Peel is perfect for homemade pizza every night. It's sleek and elegant, with softly curved edges. It's beautiful enough to hang on the wall or display on the counter when not in use, and it's one of the prettiest wooden pieces you'll find.
Escali Arti Glass Scale is a stylish kitchen scale.
Callebaut baking chips are the secret ingredient for the best chocolate chip cookies. Callebaut baking chips are round drops of pure chocolate, easy to melt or temper, weigh, and store, and have a divine taste in recipes calling for chunks of chocolate.
Emile Henry Pie Dish is the best pie plate.
Dough Whisk is my favorite whisk for tackling thick, heavy batters and dough. It looks like a fairy wand and works the dough like magic.
Mason Cash Mixing Bowl is beautifully designed. Mrs. Patmore uses these bowls in her kitchen at Downton Abbey. The pattern on the outside helps cooks get a firm grip, and the bowls are just the right shape and depth for beating or kneading.
Sugar Rush is a complete pastry course in a book. Johnny Iuzzini shares his tips and recipes in this lovely cookbook.
Nick Malgieri Pastry provides recipes for all types of doughs and step-by-step photos about how to prepare them, roll them, shape them, and bake them.
Gifts for the Cook
My gift guide for the cook includes some of my favorite kitchen products guaranteed to please the gourmand on your shopping list.
The Cook’s One Line A Day Five Year Culinary Memory Book is the perfect journal for the foodie.
What the Chef Says is an entertaining book for a chef or food lover filled with quotes from famous chefs like Julia Child.
State Shaped Cutting Boards from AHeirloom are a personal reminder of a special place. Add an engraved heart or star over your chosen town or city.
A Glass Pasta Pot is a cool way to cook pasta.
State Shaped Slate Cheese Boards are perfect for entertaining and a great conversation starter.
The Emile Henry Pizza Stone produces perfectly crispy crusts and doubles as a cutting surface. This pizza stone is micro-crazed, with a flame-top glaze that makes cleanup easy. Stone provides even, radiant heat essential to a perfectly crispy crust.
The Crate and Barrel Cookbook Stand is the best way to protect cookbooks from splatter and other kitchen messes.
This Cast Iron Drop Biscuit Pan is perfect for making biscuits. It features 7 round holes -- fill each one with your batter and each biscuit will come out perfectly shaped. I also use mine to make gluten-free cornbread and muffins. This pan is the secret to delicious biscuits, cornbread, and muffins.
The Vegetarian Flavor Bible includes history lessons, cooking techniques, nutrition guides, recipes, and detailed flavor profiles of hundreds of plant-based foods. The Flavor Bible lists which flavors pair well with others. It’s a reference book, not a recipe book, but it’s a fantastic way to learn about flavor combinations and how to best use ingredients. I can't recommend these books enough for a person that enjoys cooking.
This walnut butter knife is one of my favorite kitchen tools. The rounded stainless steel head spreads condiments evenly. I love that one side features a serrated edge for slicing a sandwich.
This walnut pizza rocker will cut the perfect slice of pizza. When I was in Italy, the pizza makers used a pizza rocker to cut the delicious pies.
Hedley and Bennet Aprons are the best aprons. I have a navy and white polka dot design.
Fat Toad Caramel is my favorite caramel. I use it for making turtles, ice cream desserts, and brownies.
Staub Oval Cockette is my go-to Dutch oven. The oval design is great for cooking soup, stews, beans, and braising meat.
A CuisiPro Swivel Peeler is the best tool to peel a variety of fruits and vegetables. This design is heavier than some of the other brands and works really well for peeling apples, pears, and other fruits and veggies.
CIA Side Towels are thick and super absorbent. These 100% cotton towels are now a staple in my kitchen. I've used them to dry dishes, grab hot pot handles or just dry my hands. These towels are my best friend in the kitchen.
Cherry Bombe is a beautifully designed magazine that celebrates women and food. A magazine gift subscription is a great idea to gift the food lover in your life.
Made in Frying Pan is a non-stick pan free of PFOA and built to last. The cookware line features premium-quality cookware at a discounted cost made in America. It’s also very popular with chefs.
Rancho Gordo Beans are the best beans grown in Mexico by small farmers. Many restaurants and chefs across the country use these beans exclusively.
The CuisiPro Julienne Slicer will easily remove the outer skin of all types of fruit and veggies.
FinaMill Spice Grinder is a must-have for kitchen enthusiasts, but it’s also handy just for seasoning food at the dinner table. Make sure to get a few pods, as you’ll want enough to keep a variety of spices ready to grind.
Thermapen ONE is hands-down the best meat thermometer money can buy, and it comes in a bunch of cool colors. Thermapen also makes a more miniature, pocket-size thermometer called the Thermoworks Thermopop, which is nearly as good as the Thermapen in almost every way and costs just $21.
Spicewalla Spices: My favorite ground spices created by Chef Meherwan Irani in Ashville, North Carolina. The 10-Pack Spice Essentials Collection makes a great gift!
A few of my favorites include Sicilian Sea Salt / Cyprus Flake Salt / Himalayan Pink Salt, Extra Small Grain / Kashmiri Chilli Powder / Za’atar / Herbs De Provence / Amore Pizza Seasoning.
Gifts for the Entertainer
Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ’Em from the Award-Winning Bar: From the foremost figure on the New Orleans' drinking scene and the owner of renowned bar Cure, a cocktail book that celebrates the vibrant city.
Ooni Pizza Oven: This pizza oven makes a delicious pizza.
Solo Stove Outdoor Fire Pit: It’s easy to light with an almost smoke-free burn.
Turkey and the Wolf Flavor Trippin’ in New Orleans: This is a fun cookbook with mouth-watering Southern recipes from Chef Mason Hereford’s popular restaurant Turkey and the Wolf in New Orleans.
Negroni Candle: The bittersweet scents of pink grapefruit and orange blossom, are balanced with aromatic citrus oils & cardamom to form a fragrance emblematic of the golden hour of Aperitivo.
Bartesian Cocktail Maker: With the Bartesian cocktail Maker, you can experience the quality ingredients and premium pours you'd expect from a cocktail lounge.
GE Opal Ice Maker: It makes ice fast and makes a drink cold, quickly.
Inku Cocktail Glasses by Sergio Herman for Serax: They are delicate, tulip-shaped glasses. They are so popular and sell out fast.
Canon Portable Printer: This printer allows you to print images directly from your phone.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 8: A fun camera for creating instant memories.
Cocktail Kit: A collection of syrups, bitters, shrubs, and flavor boosters ready to transform your bar cart into a full-blown mixologist’s lab.
Eastfork Pottery: East Fork combines rustic, handmade beauty with dishwasher-safe, microwave-friendly ease. The Everyday Bowl is the one I use the most. The perfect size for pretty much anything! The 7-Piece You’re-All-Set Set makes a great gift.
Crystal Negroni Glass Set: Cocktail enthusiasts love the wider opening and lower profile of these crystal glasses.
Kompas Wine Club: Eric curates the coolest, most affordable wines and almost all are organic and often biodynamic.
I An On Edge: A fun new game for your friend who likes Cards Against Humanity.
Gifts for Coffee Lovers
Coffee Subscription: Shop the best specialty coffee subscription from the nation’s best roasters on Trade. Fresh coffee roasted to order and delivered right to your door. A coffee subscription makes a great gift.
Ratio Six Coffee Maker: Ratio Six comes in three different colors; white, black, and stainless steel. I love the white design.
The Breville Oracle: The Breville Oracle is straightforward, despite how complicated and fancy it looks. It also comes with everything you need, including a built-in grinder.
Beans: Some of my favorite roasters are Temple Dharma Espresso, Panther Coffee East Coast Espresso, Tartine’s ’04 Latin America blend, Heart Stereo Espresso, and Vesta Goosebumps Espresso Blend.
Breville Bambino Plus or Bambino Regular Espresso Machine: The Breville Bambino Plus or Breville Bambino Regular Espresso Machine is the best for beginners. You can explore three heat and milk texture settings without a device taking up half of your kitchen counter. It’s ideal for apartments, offices, and small kitchens.
Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine in Pink: The Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine in Pink is on my wish list. Silvia Pro X is available in 4 colors: stainless steel, black, white, and pink. This is the machine to purchase if you are a little more advanced. It’s a reasonable price for the espresso quality it can make. It’s easy to use, simple to clean, fast, reliable, and light to maintain. It’s also the machine many barista pros use at home.
Yeti Mugs: Yeti Mugs keep my coffee warm for hours at a time. I love how the handle feels on my hand. It’s available in a variety of colors.
MiiR Mugs: I think MiiR makes the best-insulated coffee mugs. I like their line of Camp Cups because they come with a lid, but I also have their Flip Traveler for long walks and car rides.
Fellow Electric Pour Over Kettle: This kettle is so beautifully displayed on my stovetop. It heats up super fast and will hold its heat for 60 minutes. You can even adjust the temperature, with the range being 135°F to 212°F.
Ember Coffee Mug: Ember Coffee Mug is a smart coffee mug that uses your smartphone (via Bluetooth) to control beverage temperature.
Gifts for Ladies
Satin Serenity’s Silk Pillowcase: This silk pillowcase provides anti-aging, skin, and hair benefits.
Hoka Bondi 8 Running Shoes: The most comfortable running shoe.
Apple Watch Band: My favorite Apple watch band.
Lake Pajamas: Lake pajamas are soft and cozy.
Slippers: Elegant and comfy slippers.
Eliza Page Jewelry is one of my favorite jewelry designers. I also love the fine jewelry collection from Gorjana, Catbird, and Sidney Evan. For charms, I recommend James Avery and Catbird.
Gorjana Diamond Pavé Heart Necklace: This 14k gold heart necklace shines thanks to an array of pavé cut diamonds.
Michelle Watch: A stunning investment piece. They have many different brands, including one for the Apple Watch.
Maison de Sabre Phone Case: My favorite iPhone case. Maison de Sabre offers complimentary monogramming in gold or silver foil. Never grab the wrong phone from the table again.
Tecovas Annie Cowboy Boots: The most comfortable cowboy boots.
LeBon Socks: Lebon Socks: I love the cute designs and the cozy factor. I like the Boyfriend Socks Vintage Pink and Blue Grey; Girlfriend Socks Bellini and the trouser sock style, Her Socks.
Chunks Hair Clips: Chunks Hair Clips are my new favorite hair accessory. The Jumbo Claws hold a ton of hair and are super cute.
Kusshi Makeup Bag Organizers: They have a zip-out interior liner that is machine washable. I use the Kusshi Brush Organizer with my Kusshi Makeup Bag.
Liquid Metal Cuff Bracelet: This bracelet will add a touch of vintage to any outfit.
Stanley Adventure Quencher Travel Tumbler 40 OZ: I’ve purchased many water bottles over the years. This one is my favorite.
Personal Library Kit: The ideal gift for book lovers.
2023 Prayer Journal: Great gift for friends, or snag one for yourself.
Gifts for the Gentleman
Franklin BBQ by Aaron Franklin: A complete meat and brisket-cooking education from the country’s most celebrated pitmaster and owner of the wildly popular Franklin BBQ in Austin, Texas.
CLQ Chair: It’s the best portable chair. Weighs less than your average beach and camping chair. This lounge chair rapidly packs up to the size of a water bottle.
Theragun Mini: The mini version is lightweight and fits in the palm of your hand.
Civilware Striker Folding Knife: The ideal gift for the outdoorsman.
Green Egg: The grill master will love this gift.
Yeti Cooler and Mugs: Anything from Yeti is always a good idea. The Yeti Mug keeps my coffee warm for hours at a time. I love how the handle feels on my hand. It’s available in a variety of colors and under $25! The Yeti Tumbler 20 oz. fits in your car's cup holder. You can keep hot or cold beverages to the perfect temperature for hours! The Yeti Roadie Cooler is perfect for a trip to the beach, a fishing trip, or a guy’s golf day.
Outsider Black Flag Hat: The perfect hat for the outdoorsman.
Top Golf: It’s a ton of fun!
Mr. Black Denim Refresh: This product cleans stains and refreshes denim.
Leatherman Wingman Multi-Tool: It features 14 tools in one rugged stainless steel body.
The DSPTH paracord key chain: This key chain is a rugged, functional accessory built to endure the wear and tear of everyday usage.
Streamlight MircoStream LED KeyLight: A powerful flashlight.
Billy Jealousy Hydroplane Super Slick Shave Cream: This shaving cream earned top marks from Esquire and has a celeb following that includes George Clooney, Ben Affleck, and James Franco.
Baxter’s of California Clay Pomade: A best-selling product. This Pomade blends natural clay and beeswax for unrivaled hold and texture.
Slap Your Mama Cajun Spice Travel Kit: The kit features the best cajun seasonings on the market.
Combat-Ready Balm: A multi-tasking skin salve. Originally used by soldiers in the war zone, this fantastic product heals severe dryness, eczema, minor abrasions, post-shaving burn, chafing, scars, jock itch, bug bites, and sun/wind burn.
Gifts for Wellness
ChiliPAD Sleep System: The ChiliPad Sleep System is a mattress pad with a cooling and heating temperature control system. It regulates the surface temperature of your mattress by actively circulating water through a network of micro tubes. If you are having hot flashes or night sweats, the ChiliPad Sleep System may help you sleep better. I like to use it instead of an electric blanket during cold nights.
Hatch Restore: It’s a bedside lamp, a sound machine, and a sunrise alarm all in one compact device.
ŌURA ring: The ŌURA smart ring is a fitness tracker you wear on a finger. Learn how your lifestyle choices affect your sleep and how the quality of your sleep affects your ability to take on the day. Use this link for $50 off your order.
Baby Foot: Baby Foot is an innovative foot care product that will make your feet as smooth and soft as a baby’s foot. The unique formula of 17 types of natural extracts allows your feet to exfoliate naturally leaving them highly moisturized. The treatment removes unwanted dead skin cells that have built up layer after layer. So say goodbye to rough, dry, cracked soles.
Higher Dose Infrared Sauna Blanket: It gives you all the benefits of going to the sauna but in the comfort of your home.
Foot Massager: It’s the best foot massager.
Ionic Tooth Brush: The ionic toothbrush cleans differently from the standard manual or electric toothbrush, which uses brushing and friction to remove food buildup and plaque. The manual brush's ionic toothbrush has an ionic charge that ionizes your saliva. It momentarily reverses the polarity of the tooth exterior from negative to positive, repelling plaque from the teeth and pulling it towards the negatively charged toothbrush head.
Waterpik Water Flosser: Take your wellness routine and disease prevention to the next level. Daily water flossing is the number one best practice you can do to maintain oral hygiene which contributes to overall health and disease prevention.
Berkey Water Filter System: With Berkey, you get a quality filter that surpasses standards for filtering out pathogenic bacteria and viruses listed in the Water and Purification Standard used by the Army. It’s easy to set up and comes in several varieties to support larger families. All Berkey systems contain the Black Berkey Filters and meet the water purifier standard. I added the Berkey Water Filter Fluoride Filter to remove fluoride.
Gifts for the Jet Setter
Riemot Travel Cup Holder: The perfect gift for a flight attendant or pilot. This luggage drink holder, can "hold" your coffee, water, or any beverage hands-free without spilling.
Table Topics Travel Edition: These fabulous travel-related questions are sure to entertain you
Personalized Leather ID Lanyard: The chic way to keep my work IDs near at all times. Slots for credit cards make this the perfect item for travel. Boulevard offers free personalization.
Hat Holder: You clip it on the side of your bag/suitcase so you can travel without crushing your hat.
Weatherman Travel Umbrella: I finally found an umbrella that is durable and stylish for travel. It weighs under a pound and is less than 12 inches long.
Apple Air Tag Key Ring: Apple Air Tags are a super-easy way to keep track of your stuff. These key rings hold the air tag. I also ordered several of these designs for all of my travel bags.
Briggs and Riley Baseline: The best choice for luggage. The lifetime warranty offered on every Briggs & Riley is the best.
Rimowa: Rinowa is my favorite roller bag for international travel. I recommend any roller bag with wheels that turn in every direction and make navigating through airports and hotels easier. The bags feature the ABUS TSA-recognized locks incorporated into the zipper system that is simple to operate and provide extra security during travel.
Satin Serenity Travel Pillow: This is the perfect solution for hotel pillows. Sleeping on a satin pillowcase also provides anti-aging and skin and hair benefits.
Baggu Tote: I always pack a Baggu Tote because it takes up very little space and is lightweight. I have tried several brands and found this one more durable and roomier. These are great for shopping.
Travel Size Makeup Mirror: This makeup mirror helps with poor hotel lighting. It's about the size of a tablet with soft dimmable lighting. Makeup artists design the product.
Shower Cap: The beautiful designs are an upgrade from the tacky, ruffled hair protectors of days past.
Isabella Jewelry Case: These luxurious leather jewelry cases feature a secure zippered closure perfect for traveling.
Slip Sleep Mask: Silk products are 100% pure silk, inside and out. They're made with pure silk filler, internal silk liner, and a silk-covered elastic band. Make sure your sleep mask and pillowcase are 100% silk.
Packing Cubes: Packing cubes are one of the best tools for organizing a suitcase. I like Aer Packing Cubes and Peak Design Packing Cubes for their quality. I've tried some of the cheaper versions on Amazon, but they didn't hold up. Invest in good-quality packing cubes.
Peak Design Shoe Pouch: Peak Design shoe covers are high quality and last a long time. You can also use grocery bags to store shoes in your luggage.
Travel Steamer: I like to pack a travel steamer since most hotels do not have irons.
Cadence Travel Capsules: These small refillable containers magnetize together in a fun beehive pattern. You can choose from various colors and customize the label on the containers with everything from vitamins to shampoo.
Anker 32 Port Charger: When I’m in an airport, hotel, or coffee shop, I’ll plug my iPhone into the compact Anker 32W port, which goes from zero to 50 percent in 25 minutes. Even better, I can use the second port to simultaneously charge my MacBook.
Electronics Organizer: I use Peak Design’s, Tech Pouch. It has plenty of storage pockets for all my tech. This one is similar for a lower price. I also like the Grid-It organizer and the Incase Nylon Tech Organizer.
Gifts for Teens
Blazepod Pro: The light system has different training sessions for either general fitness or specific sports (i.e. soccer, basketball, etc.) which improve movement and reaction time. You can scale the system to include more lights.
Woojer Vest: The vest will rumble and shake to correspond with actual gameplay to make the player feel as though you’re actually on the battlefield or in the huddle.
Pickleball Set: This set comes with a regulation net, a carrying case, four wooden paddles, four balls, two indoor balls, and two outdoor balls.
Shokz Headphones: Unlike other headphones that cover your ears, this design leaves your ears completely open for total awareness of your surroundings for a safe and connected listening experience.
Gifts for Children
Children’s Story Bible: An illustrated Bible for any child under the age of five.
Recipes
These Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars are a mini-version of pecan pie.
Zaatar Cacio E Pepe adds just the right spice to this popular dish.
These chewy chocolate peanut butter cookies are filled with a smooth, sweet & salty peanut butter filling.
David’s chocolate almond buttercrunch toffee is perfect for a gift bag.
Tricia Yearwood’s Crockpot Candy is delicious.
This is the most popular cake recipe on Pinterest.
A real effective apology has three parts.
Most women undergoing breast reconstruction have complications.
The dark side of Wikipedia reveals how certain info is systematically manipulated and why it's not really the encyclopedia "anyone can edit".
What it’s like to spend 10 days in a Covid quarantine camp in China.
Why long haul flights expose flight crews and passengers to radiation.
Private clinics in Germany sell cancer patients hope and mixed results at exorbitant prices.
The last conversation you’ll ever need to have about eating right. This is great!
The one thing that protects a laptop after it’s been stolen.
People are putting oil in their coffee to lose weight.
Are Household cleaning products causing lung cancer?
The care and keeping of bacon grease.
The history of queso dip and how Chipotle got it wrong.
Nature is proving to be an awesome medicine for PTSD.
America’s fastest-growing sport is Pickleball.
Check out this gift guide for games and puzzles.
How to scan, sign, and share documents online.
If you've found your way over but are not yet subscribed, here, let me help you with that:
P.S. You May Have Missed
I’ve read this so many times now ! I wish we still got magazine in the mail to dog ear and keep because I’d do that for yours!