When I think about racking out, I think of the sleep I used to get before I bought this weighted blanket and the sleep I’ve gotten ever since.

Weighted blankets promote deep touch pressure (DTP), which helps stimulate the production of serotonin and dopamine – two hormones that are known to have a calming and relaxing effect on the body. Translation: this product will improve the overall quality of sleep. Most people who use a weighted blanket report falling asleep faster and remaining in a restful sleep until they intend to wake.

While I don’t toss and turn in my sleep, I dislike when my blanket slips off part of my body in the middle of the night. This doesn’t happen with a weighted blanket, as the weight keeps it in place for the most part.

I am 6’1″ and weigh 250 pounds. The 25-pound blanket was perfect for me. You need to be careful about how much a weighted blanket weighs with young children, but I recommend going on the heavier side with teenagers and adults in order to realize all of their benefits.

I started off using my blanket with the winter cover (which comes pre-attached from the factory) since I purchased it shortly before Christmas. I removed the winter cover in early summer to switch it out for the lighter summer cover, but I discovered that several of the ties on the winter cover had pulled off and wouldn’t be able to be reattached. I was going to install the summer cover, but the process of attaching each corner of the blanket to the corresponding point on the cover and then again on several spots in between each corner was going to be very tedious as you have to manipulate the blanket while it’s inside the cover.

I decided to just use the blanket without either cover and am very pleased. The weighted material in the blanket used to occasionally bunch up in certain spots and I’d have to shake out the blanket while holding it in the air to even it back out. I no longer have this problem now without the cover. Surprisingly, the blanket by itself is still light enough to use in the middle of summer and heavy enough for the winter.

Some people put off buying a weighted blanket because they aren’t sure whether they can be washed. You wash the covers just like any other piece of bedding. You can wash the lighter weighted blankets themselves at home, but I wouldn’t try to wash 20-pound or heavier ones at home. You risk burning up the electrical motor in your washer with the combined weight of the blanket and the wash water. You’re better off taking it to a laundromat and using their commercial strength washers. Visit this website for more information on how to safely wash your weighted blanket at home.

Make sure that you note the dimensions before you order. Just because the product description says that it’s for a king-size bed doesn’t mean that it’s going to be the same size as your king-size comforter. I have a king-size bed and ordered the 80″ x 87″ set. I love the blanket itself, but I wish I would have ordered the next larger size (104″ x 88″, which is available in either 25 or 30 pounds.

This blanket set would make a great gift for someone going off to college to help them sleep better in their new setting. There aren’t many gifts you can give that will be used every day, but this is one of them.

I purchased this phone holder after using Weathertech’s CupFone, which I reviewed here. Its design is remarkably similar, relying on the same strong and durable adjustment knobs. I had always just laid my phone face up on my desk, but it’s so much easier to quickly read texts and see who’s calling with this device. I like to listen to music stations on Pandora while I’m working with my seedlings on my workbench in the garage. This holder lifts my phone up off the table enough to help the sound travel better.

This device would be handy for videoconferencing, although please note that it can only hold your phone vertically. Also, while I haven’t used it in this manner yet, I imagine that it would be perfect for using in the kitchen to easily read recipes while you cook.

The DeskFone looks stylish on any desk, but is equally functional. The tripod stand has a small footprint, yet it provides a stable foundation without any wobbling or sliding thanks to the anti-skid coating on the feet. There is a notch in the bottom of the phone cradle that accommodates a cord to allow you to charge it while it’s in the stand. The head tilts, so you can adjust it for better visibility based on your seating height and glare from overhead or outside lights.

Weathertech states that the DeskFone will fit regular-sized phones regardless of case size or oversized phones with slim cases. It holds my iPhone 11 Pro with a standard Otterbox case perfectly.

All of Weathertech’s products are incredible and this one is no exception. Even better, everything they make is 100% designed, engineered, and manufactured in the United States. I look forward to seeing this company’s future product developments based on my positive experience with my floormats, CupFone, and DeskFone.

As a Marine, I always kept one of these pens in the breast pocket of my uniform. I could always count on it to write on just about any surface, including a range of different types of paper and even the outer plastic liner of an MRE. I still use one to this day – it’s without a doubt the most versatile pen I have ever used. I keep one on my desk to endorse checks and sign letters and one in my car.

You can throw this pen in your vehicle and not worry about it freezing or leaking ink if it gets too hot. I suggest that everyone keeps a reliable pen or marker in their car for routine use as well as emergencies such as writing down a license plate number or leaving a note. The Fisher Space Pen writes just fine in very cold weather when standard ballpoint pens won’t. While I never found myself in a situation that would test the limits of this pen, the company claims that it will write in extreme temperatures from -30F to 250F.

While I purchased both of mine on my own, I would have loved receiving one of these as a gift. This pen would make a fine gift for anyone, but especially for those who work outdoors or in an industrial or otherwise hostile environment. The price of the pen includes free engraving up to 20 characters as well as a metal gift box.

The Space Pen is available in more than 10 unique colors, so finding the perfect one should be easy for anyone who would appreciate receiving a fine writing instrument. I like the classic chrome look as well as the matte black. They have both held up well to typical wear and tear.

Refills are available in most office supply stores, but you’ll save money buying the 3-pack from Amazon. You can buy refills in fine, medium, or bold point and in black or blue ink.

I searched long and hard to find a bright, well-built LED light that would look good on my desk. I believe I’ve found it with this one.

I have two of these lights – one on my office desk, and another on my bed’s headboard. The light clamps securely onto a riser on my computer desk as well as the much thicker headboard, so there is quite a bit of range depending on what you want to attach it to.

The best feature is the ability to easily change the color temperature and brightness of the light. There are five temperatures available ranging from a very cool, office-like daylight for tasks that require excellent visibility to a very warm cozy yellow hue when you want to relax. I found the brightness levels to be appropriately stepped, although I usually use mine on the brightest or second to brightest setting.

I also really like the 30-minute auto-power off timer that you activate simply by holding the on/off button for two seconds. You can read a book before bed and not worry about having to rouse yourself to turn off the light as the sandman beckons.

There is also a USB port on the back of the base so that you can charge your phone or tablet.

This would make a great graduation gift for someone who is going off to college. With the range of brightness levels, this lamp would be ideal for reading at your desk without disturbing a roommate who is sleeping.

If you would have asked me a year ago if I ever would have spent $250 on a set of headphones, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. My wife received a set of these from her parents for a birthday gift and told me that I had to try them out. Let’s just say that the only reason she got them back is because I ordered a set for myself! Read on to see why I could never go back to wired headphones.

Between my mowing business, my market garden, and all the work that I do around our country acreage, I spend a lot of time outside. I’m usually listening to podcasts, audio books on my Libby app, and occasionally even music. Accidentally yanking out my wired earbuds while using a tool or getting the cords caught on some brush ranks up there with snagging the pocket of your shorts on the pull handle of a kitchen cabinet for me. Each time this would happen, I would have to remove my gloves and ear muffs (which I always wear when using outdoor power equipment), reconnect the cable to the jack on my phone, and then restart my audio.

My litmus test for headphones is simple – they have to stay in without me having to constantly adjust them while I exercise. The AirPods Pro pass this test with flying colors. These stay in place without moving around whatsoever while I run, which is a huge improvement over the wired earbuds I had been using. I can lift weights (including decline presses) and count on them staying put.

The noise cancellation – the key feature between Apple’s standard AirPods and the AirPods Pro – is incredible for how small these are. It was a little hard to get used to not hearing some of the ambient noises when I first started using these. I caught myself pulling the recoil starter back another time after my handheld leaf blower had already started because I didn’t hear it start. I fortunately do not have to use public transportation for my commute (I treasure this “quiet time”), but these would be a godsend for drowning out noise on a crowded bus or train.

It’s easy to turn off the noise cancellation feature if you want to still be able to hear background noises while you listen to your audio. You can even switch modes without having to remove your AirPods, which is incredibly convenient and could be a safer option in certain situations when you still need to be able to passively hear what’s going on around you. Just press and hold the “stalk” off the AirPod to switch modes. You can also change the modes – noise cancelling, transparency, and off – in the settings menu on your phone.

AirPods charge rapidly with Apple’s tried-and-true Lightning USB charger. You actually charge the case that the AirPods are stored in, which in turn charges the pods themselves. A full charge in the case charges them several times. This makes it very convenient to just take the case with you when you leave the house, as you’re essentially taking along several charging cycles with this power pack. I have been getting approximately four hours of listening time each time I plug my AirPods back into their case, and that’s with the noise cancellation feature turned on (which consumes more battery power.)

Another feature I really like is how easy it is to pause your audio when you need to talk to someone while you’re using them. Simply remove one of the AirPods or quickly squeeze and release the stalk. Whatever you were listening to will resume in exactly the same spot you left it when you either put the AirPod back in or press the button on the stalk. This is far more convenient than resuming the audio on the phone itself, especially when you’re wearing gloves.

You can also make and receive phone calls and use Siri with AirPods. I usually just use mine to listen to podcasts, books, and music, but I could see where these features would be helpful. I love how Siri will read my texts to me or respond to my command to turn up/down the volume or skip songs on Pandora without me having to touch my phone.

So, what’s not to like about these second-generation AirPods Pro? Understand that these use very small lithium ion batteries that cannot be replaced. Most users are reporting that they get about two years of regular use out of them before the battery life starts to significantly decline. Of course, much depends on how often you use them and how you take care of them, but this isn’t pocket change for a product that you’re only going to get several years of service out of. Regardless, I will buy another pair of these when these give up the ghost some day because of the sound quality and the frustration they have eliminated while I get work done or exercise.

Like many boys, I became interested in trains when I got my first model train set. I vividly remember setting it up on the floor of my grandparents’ living room on Christmas morning and watching my train go around and around. Both my model railroad collection and my modeling skills have increased exponentially since then, but I will be forever grateful to my late grandparents for making that train set possible.

Bachmann’s Rail Chief HO Scale train set has been around in various forms (although it’s name may have changed) for decades and for good reason. It’s the easiest way to get a young person into the hobby of model railroading because it has everything they will need to get started in one box. There is a locomotive, four cars, power pack, signal bridge, miniature figures, railroad signs, street signs, telephone poles, and enough track included to make a 47″ x 38″ oval.

Bachmann’s E-Z track includes nickel silver rail (the industry standard) attached to molded gray roadbed. While some modelers do use it on their permanent layout, E-Z track is designed to provide a stable setup for running trains directly on the floor or on a table. It’s easy to setup and disassemble for temporary operations.

It’s not a problem at all to add turnouts, wyes, and crossings later on if you become bored watching your train run in circles. Most hobby shops carry a wide selection of E-Z track and accessories.

Bachmann Industries has really stepped up their game in recent years and has been working hard to shed its image of a “toy train” manufacturer to a “model train” supplier. Bachmann’s products are certainly not in the same league as Athearn, Walthers, and Scale Trains in terms of prototypical detail and build quality and they don’t pretend to be. Instead, they balance functionality and durability, which is exactly what a train set that will be operated by a child needs to be.

You can spend a lot more on a Digital Command Control train set with highly detailed locomotives and rolling stock, but you really shouldn’t. A simple Direct Current (DC) set like this with fewer details to break off due to careless handling is the best way to get a young kid into the hobby. If it sparks their interest, they will have the rest of their life to build super-detailed models and program DCC CV codes in $300+ locomotives as their skills progress.

Put this device in the category of “why didn’t I think of that?” It’s such a simple concept, but the utility and the build quality make this something that I think all cars should come equipped with from the factory. WeatherTech is known for their durable precision-fit floor mats and other accessories. Just like their other products, the CupFone is designed, engineered, and manufactured in America.

My mother-in-law had sent my wife one of these via Amazon as a surprise since she has a pretty long commute to her school. I thought it looked like something I would get a lot of use out of, so I asked her to look it up real quick to see how much it was. I have to admit that I was taken aback when she told me that it was $52, but she very generously told me to have it since her cup holders were for her Starbucks. There is no doubt that it’s a chunk of change for a plastic contraption that sits in your cup holder, but I can honestly say it’s worth every penny of that after using it for the past several months.

This is hands down my favorite automotive accessory due to how convenient it makes stowing my phone when I get in my vehicle. It’s become a habit to slide my phone in the holder as soon as I get in and grab it when I reach my destination. Because the phone is securely held in place by gravity, you don’t need to loosen any fasteners when you need to access it. I also don’t even bother plugging in the aux cable anymore because the CupFone elevates my phone and makes it much easier to hear my podcasts or audiobooks than when I used to just set it on the passenger seat.

Having my phone slide around on the seat or fall on the floor (or worse yet, fall in between and under the seats) is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to my while I’m driving. Don’t waste your time on the gel mats or the holders that attach to the air vents — they won’t secure your phone like this will.

The extension feature is especially useful for using voice commands and for when I need to safely take a quick look at the GPS because I can set it at the optimal height and angle. The extension –as well as the adjustment wheels for the bracket that holds the phone itself, the tilt, and the rotation — stay exactly in the position that you set them indefinitely. This is where off-brand accessories similar to the WeatherTech CupFone and cell phone mounts and tripods fail.

The CupFone uses multiple sized tapered friction cups that can be changed to fit the cup holder. There are enough of these cups to provide what feels like a factory fit in any of our vehicles’ cupholders, including in my John Deere Gator. The bracket itself adjusts to fit any smartphone and gently secures it in a dense cushioned slot. The bracket’s design allows you to keep your phone plugged in for charging while it’s in the holder. You can even remove your phone from the holder or replace it with one hand without ever having to disconnect your charging cord.

You will never have to worry about whether someone will use your gift if you give them one of these. I can’t think of anyone whose commute you couldn’t make a little easier by buying them a CupFone.

You don’t have to be a kid again to enjoy a Red Ryder BB gun – the standard to which all others are compared.

This kit includes everything you need to get a young person (or yourself) started in the hobby of air rifles. In addition to the gun, it comes with safety glasses, a container of BBs, and some targets. Throw in some aluminum cans and you’ll be ready to teach the next generation how to shoot safely and have fun doing it.

Not much has changed from the original, as the name of this rifle implies. I was impressed by the quality of the stained wood stock. It has a great feel to it and balances the weight of the rest of the gun nicely.

I was a little disappointed to see that the lever is made from polymer (plastic) instead of metal in keeping with the design of the original that I had when I was young. It feels solid, but it’s one of those pieces on a gun that really shouldn’t be made of plastic. I did learn that Daisy sells a metal replacement for about $5 that is easy to swap out.

The Model 1938 has a maximum velocity of 350-feet per second which is standard for a lever-action gun. I was impressed with its accuracy out of the box and the rear sight is adjustable.

This is the ideal first air gun for teaching the fundamentals to children who are around age 10. I recommend the shorter Red Ryder Buck 105 lever-action for younger shooters. A lever-action rifle is better for teaching new shooters in my opinion, as it provides a good opportunity to teach them about muzzle awareness as they load the next round. A lever is also easier for younger children to operate by themselves (with your supervision until they’re ready, of course) than a pump.