Category: Best Buys

From furniture and finishes to fixtures and accessories — our favorite products and fabulous finds for busy homes and lifestyles.

Best Vinyl Placemats for Indoors & Outdoors in 2024

Easy-clean vinyl placemats have come a long way in terms of style in recent years. Nowadays, you’ll even find these eye-catching placemats adorning tables in upscale restaurants and hotels. Looking to perk up your tabletops with easy-care, easy-clean placemats? To help kick-start your search, we curated a list of top-rated vinyl placemats in various styles, […]

The 5 Best Hard Floor Mops for Quick & Effective Cleaning in 2024

A pad-style hard floor mop makes it easy to get that satisfying squeaky-clean finish in just minutes. Here’s a quick look at the top pad mop sellers for so you can see which best suits your needs for effectiveness, durability, and convenience. Best Overall Hard Floor Mop: Swiffer WetJet Original Crowned the king of floor […]

Dos and Don’ts to Avoid Electric Shocks at Home

Let’s talk about something we all use every day: electricity. It’s like the superstar of modern life, powering everything from our gadgets to our coffee makers. But here’s the twist—it comes with some not-so-fun risks, like those pesky electric shocks. To keep your family safe and sound, we’ve got some ground rules. Think of them […]

The Best Drinking Glasses For Everyday Use in 2024

It’s a tall order to name the best drinking glasses sets out of the thousands of options out there. Luckily, I spent nearly two decades as a drinkware buyer for a top tableware retailer, so I come armed with a list of tried-and-true faves. For this review, I narrowed the field down to glassware brands […]

5 Easy Ways to Child Proof Blind Cords & Windowcoverings in 2024

Modern products like cordless blinds deliver an array of stylish solutions without the worry of dangerous dangling blind cords. Or, you can easily childproof existing blinds and shades with inexpensive blind cord cleats, cord wraps, and breakaway tassels.

Tritan Plastic Glasses: 10 Top Brands for 2024

Tritan plastic glasses are the latest innovation in plastic drinkware, offering a perfect combination of clarity and elegance with superior durability and easy care. Along with being unbreakable, dishwasher-safe and available in a wide selection of colors and styles, Tritan plastic glasses are also BPA-free, unlike their polycarbonate counterparts. 10 Best-Selling Tritan Drinkware Brands Here […]

Best Plastic Wine Glasses for Everyday Use in 2024

With so many choices of plastic wine glasses, picking the best line can be hard, and believe me, I know! I’ve worked with restaurant-quality plastic glasses for over a decade and have tried and tested all of the top names in plastic tableware. This review compares top-rated plastic wine glass brands for everyday use. Each line […]

The Ultimate Plastic Dinnerware Shopping Guide for 2024

Every year, a new round of plastic dinnerware and tableware sets hits the market. But to shop smart, you need to know which types of plastics are truly designed to hold up to daily use. We reviewed the various types of plastics used to make plastic dinnerware in terms of overall durability, break and scratch […]

Unbreakable Plastic Drinking Glasses: 5 Best Types to Buy in 2024

Unbreakable plastic glasses that truly live up to the name “unbreakable” are made from only three types of plastic – polycarbonate, Tritan, or polypropylene. Plastic glasses made from other types of plastic, like acrylic or SAN, aren’t unbreakable. They might be labeled break-resistant or shatterproof, but they can break when dropped on a hard surface. […]

Ultimate Guide To The Best Plastic Dinnerware 2024

Plastic tableware is an outdoor dining staple in most homes, and its popularity as everyday dinnerware is on the rise. Nowadays, plastic dishes come in a vast array of styles and colors, including dinnerware sets that mimic the look and feel of ceramic or stoneware dishes. Most plastic tableware is practically unbreakable and dishwasher-safe thanks […]

Best Unbreakable Glassware for Home and Bar in 2024

Virtually unbreakable glassware is made in one of three ways: tempering, annealing, or infusion–which combines glass with a metal such as titanium at the molecular level. Each method produces extremely break-resistant glass drinking glasses. While no glassware is truly “unbreakable,” glasses made using these methods withstand far more abuse than standard glass drinking glasses. If […]

3 Tips for Fitting Sofa Slipcovers with Loose Cushions

Finding and fitting slipcovers for sofas with loose cushions or pillows on the back can be challenging, but we found an easy way to get it done. This simple method works with most standard slipcovers, including loose-fit and stretch-fit styles from top brands like Surefit, Easy-Going, and PureFit. Our Loose-Cushion Sofa Slipcover Project This sofa […]

How To Make S’mores In The Microwave in Just 30 Seconds

Just when I thought it was safe to pull out my size 6 jeans, I find a microwave S’mores maker. S’mores, at home, without flaming marshmallows streaking through the air and landing on hapless siblings??? Happiness itself! If you have kids (or are still a kid yourself), and have a little extra storage space, it’s a fun and inexpensive addition to your kitchen treat makers.

5 Reasons to Switch to a Smart Door Lock in 2024

If you still use a traditional key and lock system on your doors, it’s time to upgrade. Smart door locks offer many advantages over traditional counterparts, from convenience and peace of mind to increased security and curb appeal. You can find smart locks for all needs and budgets, from inexpensive keypad locks to Wi-Fi-enabled systems […]

Keep Fright Night Fun With These 10 Halloween Safety Tips

Spooky decorations, creepy costumes and candy-filled visions spur kids – and often the entire family – into a fun-filled frenzy on Halloween. But don’t let hidden dangers spoil the evening for your ghouls and booys! Here are ten simple Halloween safety and planning tips to help keep fright night from becoming a real scare.

Scare Up Some Fun With the Best Halloween Cake Pans for 2024

No fright-night get-together is complete without a spooktacular Halloween cake. Shopping for skull, ghost, or jack-o’ lantern-shaped cakes? How about a tasty 3D haunted mansion or frosting-oozing brains for your party centerpiece this year? These top-selling Halloween cake pans make it easy to whip up spooky snacks like these—and more. Several top-rated bakeware brands make […]

5 Best Margarita Blenders for 2024

The best margarita blenders have powerful motors and strong blades that get the ice texture just right. You simply can’t have a great frozen margarita without perfect crushed ice! Here’s a quick look at 5 top-rated high-performance blenders offering the powerful motor and high-quality blades needed to make the perfect margarita. Best Margarita Blenders At-a-Glance Clearly, […]

Best Bundt Pans & Bundt Cake Keepers for 2024

The best bundt cake pans cook evenly, release cakes cleanly and keep the fine details intact. Bundt cake pans come — quite literally — in all shapes and sizes. You’ll find heavy cast aluminum and thin-walled bundt pans, nonstick and uncoated surfaces, and plain and decorative styles. With so many choices, picking the best can […]

Best Glass and Plastic Stemless Wine Glasses for 2024

Multi-use stemless wine glasses are fast becoming a mainstay in homes, restaurants and bars. With the growing popularity of this drinkware shape, shoppers can now choose from a wide range of both glass and plastic stemless wine glasses in many shapes and colors. Here’s a roundup of our favorite stemless wine glass brands for and […]

Best-Selling Bundt Cake Pans – Bundt You Want Me, Baby?

Yes, it’s a shameful nod to an 80’s song, bundt I hope you will forgive me. That’s how much I love a good bundt cake pan! I simply love bundt cakes, and it’s no wonder. If you’ve seen the amazing cakes you can whip up using the fabulous decorative bundt pans from Nordicware, you’d understand […]

Fave! Michley Unbreakable Plastic Tumblers & Wine Glasses

The Michley collection is one of my personal favorites. It’s crafted from restaurant-grade BPA-free Tritan plastic and made to withstand the bumps, bonks and splats of busy bars and restaurants. So it’s sure to meet the demands of indoor and outdoor dining at home. Top Picks in the Michley Plastic Drinkware Collection When I first reviewed […]

Tips for Picking the Best Wall Paints for Kids

Over the years, we’ve been asked about the best paint for children’s bedrooms, nurseries, and busy family spaces. While we’re not professional painters, we seem to make a hobby of painting, re-painting, and re- re-painting our homes, so we feel very qualified to tackle this question. Happily, it’s an easy answer… Paint formulation and finish […]

Make-A-Plate Kit by Makit: Make Your Own Artwork Plates, Bowls & More

Make-a-Plate, the same company that made those draw-it-yourself plate kits eons ago when we were young, is still cranking out priceless keepsakes. If you’ve never heard of Make-a-Plate kits but are looking for a nifty gift for kids, or anyone for that matter, here’s how Make-a-Plate and their other kits for Mugs, Travel Tumblers and Photo Plates work…

DIY Budget-Friendly Holiday Gift Bag Ideas

Here are some super easy DIY fun holiday gift bag ideas. They’re fun ways to go green – and even save a little green – when it comes to gift bags this holiday season. DIY Christmas & Holiday Gift Bags Instead of buying new or holiday-specific gift bags this year, why not make your own […]

Fave! Star Wars Mania Craft Book by Amanda Formaro

My online buddy Amanda Formaro (author of the fabulous CraftsbyAmanda.com blog) just published her latest, and perhaps greatest, craft MANIA book — STAR WARS MANIA! Chock-full of Star Wars-inspired crafts and activities, it’s sure to inspire little paduans and Jedi crafts-masters alike. May the creative Force be with you! Most of her Star Wars crafts are […]

DIY Homemade Recipe In a Jar Gifts

Homemade recipe in a jar gifts with beautifully layered ingredients topped with a flourish are a thoughtful and economical way to treat friends, coworkers, neighbors or teachers to the flavors of the season. And making them is easy and fun – especially if you get the kids involved. Jar recipes for everything from cookies to […]

Faves! Ten Easy Home Storage Solutions for Busy Families

Whether you’re chasing a busy toddler or are an empty-nester, homes can sometimes feel ready to burst at the seams. But a little creativity and a few repurposed pieces can easily add space and help organize the things you just can’t live without. Here are ten easy and inexpensive home storage solutions perfect for busy […]

Slipcover Shopping Guide

We’ve helped thousands of customers choose the right slipcover solution for their home, and have made or installed countless slipcovers ourselves. Though we no longer sell ready-made furniture slipcovers, we’ve compiled this slipcover shopping guide to help you pick the slipcover solution – from ready-mades, to custom, to do-it-yourself – that best fits your home, […]

Childproofing Checklist: Safe Trekking with Toddlers

As any parent knows, taking young children for visits away from their childproofed, kid-friendly home can be stressful – sometimes downright unnerving. New surroundings inspire kids to touch, test and even taste whatever they find. Such curiosity is natural. But for guests and hosts alike, it can make a visit anything but relaxing! You can […]

Beyond Babyproofing: Fireplace Safety Tips and Hearth Safety

Fall winds and rustling leaves foretell of cozy family evenings around a crackling fire. A warm hearth is a welcoming spot in any home and a few simple fireplace safety precautions can help ensure that your fireplace, chimney, hearth or wood stove does not present a danger to tots and other family members this season. […]

Beyond Babyproofing: Candle Safety & Worry-Free Flameless Options

If you enjoy the ambiance and great scents that candles add to a home, you’re not alone. Candle sales are up and they’re more popular than ever in home decorating, but there are a few things to remember before you light up…. especially if you have little ones running about. According to the National Fire […]

Beyond Babyproofing: Surprise New Grandparents with a Baby-Ready Gift Basket

Give new grandparents the tools they need for keeping busy grandkids! New grandparents play a special role in the lives of children, but they sometimes get overlooked amid the fuss over parents and a newborn. So why not shower grandparents with a little attention and a gift or two? There are many items that new […]

Faves! Bar Tools & Wine Accessories

I have one rule when it comes to testing a bar or wine tool. I should be able to use it after a drink or two. I think this is a sensible rule and one I put into play on several buying trips. As a Texas-based buyer, the big homewares market at the Dallas Market […]

Faves! Battery-Operated Candles & Lighting

Safe, smart, worry-free, and smoke-free — battery-operated candles are a great way to enjoy candlelight wherever and whenever, without the danger of an open flame. Whether you’re shopping for home decor candles, outdoor lighting, or party lighting, you’ll find a variety of flameless candles on the market these days to fit any need — along […]

Faves! Kitchen Tools

I love to cook, and since I’m often rushing home from work to feed the family I gravitate toward tools that make prep and cleanup simple and quick. I’m a bit of an addict in this area, so naturally the kitchen tool showrooms always top my list when shopping the homewares markets. You wouldn’t believe […]

Fave! Strahl Unbreakable Plastic Drinkware

strahl unbreakable plastic tumblers and drinkware

Strahl plastic glassware is a Top Tableware Fave in my book for style, quality and durability. I know the line very well since we stocked and sold it for over 15 years, plus I’ve used it in my own home even longer than that. Strahl is sold directly through Amazon so we no longer stock it, but I still highly recommend it. […]

Faves! Plastic Drinkware: Cups, Glasses & Tumblers

If you’re in the market for plastic glasses or tumblers of any sort you’re in luck. Plastic drinkware is no longer a seasonal line. We retail buyers source it year-round and it commands a proud place as an everyday essential on store shelves and kitchen tables. Chalk it up to busy lifestyles, the rise of better quality […]

Faves! Serving Essentials

Who doesn’t love a good party? That’s an easy one — the party host who doesn’t have the right serving tools! Talk about misery — shuffling through cabinets, searching for platters, trays and bowls big enough to serve a crowd. You know what? I just described my first come-one-come-all family Thanksgiving as new bride. But […]

Faves! Recipe Organizers

Ask any cook what they love to collect and recipes are sure to be a top answer. From magazine clippings to computer printouts to well-loved recipe cards handed down through the years, organizing recipes in their many forms can be a daunting task. Luckily there are numerous recipe organizers to suit just about any collecting […]

Fave! Forever & Grand Plastic Drinkware by Prodyne

We stocked Prodyne brand kitchenware for many years and their Forever & Grand unbreakable plastic drinkware lines are tops in my drinkware Top Faves. We no longer carry Prodyne since they sell direct on Amazon now, but we sold it for over a decade, so I know it well. I definitely recommend Prodyne’s Forever and Grand […]

Fave! Napa BPA-Free Plastic Wine Glasses & Stemware

The plastic stemware collection we once sold under the Napa brand now goes by many names — Sonoma, Leadingware, even Wine Enthusiast on occasion. But whatever the name, these plastic wine glasses are a Top Fave in my book. They’re simply the closest match in size, style and feel to quality glass wine stems — […]

Fave! Clarus Brand Plastic Drinkware

The Clarus plastic drinkware collection is a Top Tableware Fave in my book for style, quality and durability – and I know it well since we stocked and sold it since its introduction nearly 10 years ago. Clarus is now sold direct from the manufacturer through Amazon so we longer stock it, but I still […]

Faves! NordicWare Plastic Microwave Cookware & Dishes

NordicWare Plastic Microwave Cookware is amazingly versatile, offering many specialty pieces that take full advantage of microwave cooking patterns. We stocked most of the line here for well over a decade and still use it daily both in our office kitchen and in our own homes. It’s definitely my Top Fave for plastic microwave dishes […]

Fave! Cakepops Made Easy with the Cake Pops Baking Pan

If you’re a fan of cakepops (and really, who isn’t?), then you’ll love this kitchen fave. It’s the Cake pops Baking Pan, proudly made in the USA by bakeware leader, NordicWare. Making cakepops usually involves rolling crumbled bits of cake together with frosting to create the “pop”. While this method works, it’s a messy process […]

Video DIY: Easy to Make Wine Glass Charms

Help party guests keep track of wine glasses and other stemware with these easy-to-make wine glass charms. A pair of needlenose pliers and a quick trip down the beading aisle at the craft store is all it takes to make these stylish and inexpensive dangles. They make a great gift, too! Best of all… NO crafting skills […]

Faves! Disposable Partyware

As if you don’t have enough to worry about when planning a party! Have you SEEN the vast array of disposable tableware options online? Not to mention the number of places selling disposable partyware and dishes? My head spins. Frankly, I say hit the dollar store for most party needs these days. Our Dollar Tree […]

Faves! Plastic Stemware & Specialty Glasses

If you’re in the market for plastic martini or margarita glasses, champagne flutes, or specialty stemware like hurricanes or dessert dishes, you’re in luck. Once considered summertime wares, plastic stemware is now available all year long, and with ample choices to fit any need. We sold many different plastic stemware lines for years, but most […]

Faves! Durable Plastic Mugs for Beer, Coffee & More

If you’re in the market for plastic mugs that look great and hold up to years of use, check out my reviews and top picks below before you go shopping. For over 15 years, we carried a nice variety of beer and beverage mugs in durable, dishwasher-safe plastics. Most of our lines (in fact, all) […]

Faves! Easy-Clean Pillows for Kid-Friendly Style

As one of the easiest, quickest and least expensive home decorating solutions, throw pillows are a particularly easy way for parents to add a dash of style to busy family rooms without worry.

Faves! Washable Area Rugs Perfect for Busy Family Life

Have an area in your home that needs a style refresher or a pop of color to liven things up? Area rugs offer a quick and easy room makeover. In fact, they’re often the first thing professional decorators pull out of their bag of tricks. But what if your home plays host to busy kids […]

The Miracleware Microwave Rice Cooker: Easy Cooking Instructions

If you’ve lost your MiracleWare or PrepSolutions Microwave Cookware Instructions and need a replacement copy, you can find them below. MiracleWare and PrepSolutions plastic microwave cookware collections are made by a terrific brand — Progressive Intl. — and we stocked and sold it ourselves for years. We recommend both collections if you’re looking for durable […]

Fave! Lead Test Kits Make it Easy to Prevent Lead Exposure

Lead-contaminated childrens’ products have topped the recent news stories… and for good reason. Lead exposure can have a very profound and long-term negative affect on childrens’ health. So lead exposure is, and should remain, a concern to parents.

Fave! Wire Storage Cubes for Quick, Cheap Home Organization

From kids’ rooms and family areas to closets and bathrooms, I’ve been using these versatile wire-sided storage cube units with great satisfaction for years. Decades even. In fact, I recently put the bits and pieces that I managed to save from my first college dorm set to work in my closet. Happily, I was even able to […]

Baby Gate Reviews: Stairway Banister Installation Kit How-to’s

A professional babyproofer gave us the inside scoop on how to turn Cardinal Gates’ No-Holes Banister Clamps into a versatile kit that lets you install practically any baby safety gate onto stairway banisters. We sold this kit for years but since we quit selling gates due to shipping costs, we’re no longer stocking the kits […]

A Truly Tea-Riffic Tea Infuser for You Tea Lovers (and Me, Too!)

I love tea. Truth be told I love coffee too, but that’s a morning love affair. A nice cup of tea is what I crave for an afternoon pick me up that won’t keep me up all night. Problem is, I really like to explore teas and drift towards the loose leaf varieties — and […]

Faves! 3 Fun Ways to Teach Kids Greener Habits

Green Living… Eco-friendly… Earth-Wise… You really can’t open a magazine, blog or browser these days without hearing about new ways to save the Earth. I must admit, I’m probably not the greenest gal on the block. But I do like to do my part where I can, and it’s surprising how easy it is to incorporate greener […]

Fave! TV Straps Protect Children From a Deadly Home Hazard

It’s a tragedy that’s surprisingly common. A child reaching for something as mundane as a juice box pulls a heavy television over, is caught underneath, and loses his life. This terrible accident happened in a Chicago suburb just days ago but, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), it’s just the latest of this […]

Video DIY: DIY Recipe Binders Make a Great Mom’s Day Gift

If you have a Mom who loves to cook, collect recipes and try new dishes, then a customized recipe binder or recipe box might be a perfect Mother’s Day gift – and they’re really easy to make. See how simple it is to put together a custom recipe binder in the video below. We’ve used materials from one […]

Fave! Countertop Composters – An Easy First Step in Cutting Household Waste

I admit I’m not likely to be the greenest gal in the crowd, but I try to do my part. So I’m always thrilled to find products that make “doing my part” easy — and countertop composters do just that. These compact, trashcan-style containers are made to sit on the kitchen countertop so you can easily collect food scraps during meal prep. But […]

Faves! Plastic Dishes and Glasses Made in the USA

In the age of endless imports filling store shelves, it may surprise (even shock?) you to know that yes, there are still a few things being made right here in the good ‘ol U.S.A. That includes plastic dishes, glasses and other tableware items. Nice ones, too! Since we’ve specialized in sourcing great-quality plastics for kitchen and […]

Video DIY: How to Make Custom Recipe Binders & Card Boxes

Recipe binders are a great way to organize all of those clipped recipes from magazines, recipe printouts, and cards all in one convenient go-to cookbook. Customized recipe binders with a few family favorites tucked inside are also wonderful gifts for brides, new moms, kids starting out, or friends and family. Plus we have some ideas for making custom recipe boxes, too! Here’s a look […]

Tips to Keep Dishwasher Safe Plastic Glasses Looking Good

Oh, the promise a plastic glass labeled “top rack dishwasher-safe” holds! Carefree kitchens with drinkware that’s not only unbreakable, but dishwasher-friendly. But anyone with a dishwasher less than ten years old may hold a different view. Their “top rack dishwasher-safe” tumblers often come out of the top rack crackled, scaly or clouded – sometimes after just a few wash cycles. What gives?

Stay on Budget with a Babyproofing Plan

From diapers to formula, not to mention all the other “stuff,” parents can quickly find themselves spending a good amount of money on little ones’ needs. With a plan in-hand when you go shopping, you’ll avoid overspending on unnecessary items. Plus, you’ll have the right items and quantities on-hand when you begin to install, saving time and frustration.

Childproofing Checklist: Baby Safety “Gotta-Do” Areas

Shop Smart! Print the DIY Childproofing Checklist before you hit the stores. Visited a baby superstore lately? You’ll agree there are ALOT of childproofing products to choose from – and many of them seem to do the same thing, just a bit differently than their counterparts. So what’s a new parent or parent-to-be to do? […]

Childproofing Checklist: Baby Safety Gates 101

Baby safety gates are effective barriers in many areas of the home and come in a variety of designs to meet different needs. Selecting the right gate for your space is key for both safety and livability – and it’s easy to do with a little pre-planning!

Five Easy – Even Effortless – Ways to Reduce Household Waste

As I begin this entry — a look at five easy ways to reduce household waste without even realizing it — I wonder if readers see me as yet another voice preaching an occasional “Go Green” message as the new fashionable “it” thing.

I hope not, and here’s why.

Storage Strategies for Busy Family Homes

It’s just common sense — and for parents, common knowledge — that storage needs multiply rapidly when children arrive. So what’s a style-sensitive parent to do? Happily, there are many simple, inexpensive, and best of all – stylish – storage solutions that do everything from protecting valuable items to neatly disguising mounds of toys.

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