Like many people during the pandemic, the inability to go out to restaurants served as an impetus to start cooking. I had cooked sporadically throughout my life, but I never really got into it, and I certainly never featured it prominently in anything resembling a regular routine. This is no longer the case—now I cook dinner most nights, having turned it into a habit. As this became my pattern, something funny happened to me. I realized I did not own placemats!
I had been living the stereotypical millennial lifestyle. My dinners were prepared in restaurant kitchens, and I would usually eat them on the couch in front of my TV. The notion of consuming nightly food at a designated spot at the dining room table had become alien. Perversely, the “home-cooked meal” ideal was something that I associated with childhood rather than with an adult life. (I know I am not the only 20-something year old to feel this way.)
All of this is to say, I went on Amazon.com and bought placemats. I needed a set that fit in with the décor of my apartment, something both modern and timeless. I wanted a set that would be appropriate no matter what type of meal I was eating nor the company I was with. I landed on this four-set of blue placemats from a brand called Home Brilliant.
These were the perfect set for me. I love the material, a “faux linen burlap” that has an inherent weightiness to it. Although they were only $16, they feel like they are worth much more than that. I would not call them particularly fancy, but the Amazon listing shows them in use at high society events, and I do not think they would be out of place there:
My biggest concern was with washing them. The product description says,“Machine washable, (hand wash recommended), separately from other articles, gentle circle in low. No bleach.”
This made me nervous. For four placemats that I was to use casually, I did not want to deal with the whole rigmarole of special washing instructions. I wanted to be able to toss them into the washing machine like everything else that is dirty. The point of having four placemats, when I am just one person, is that I can rotate the placemats in and out of the wash throughout the week. Running a full load just for one or two placemats would be absolutely ridiculous!
I have good news then. It turns out that you can wash them normally. Several of the customer reviews on Amazon said this, but I was still unsure the first time I threw it in with a bunch of towels. Luckily, I had no problem. The placemat came out as clean as can be and no worse for wear. This “Home Brilliant” set turned out to be exactly what I needed.
When it comes to shopping for your best friend, mom, girlfriend, or any other leading lady in your circle, we’ve got you covered. Shop the best gift ideas for women with this holiday gift guide. All products are available on Amazon!
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In 2022, Santa hats are out. Silly turkey hats are in.
I was on Amazon looking for things to do over Thanksgiving with relatives (eventually landing on the brand new game Christmas Categories) when I came across this:
My first thought was that it creates the perfect opportunity for someone in the family to recreate the classic Monica turkey head scene from Friends:
Then I realized that there are many ways you can have fun with the turkey hat Thanksgiving. When you play games, you can decide in advance that the loser has to wear the turkey hat. Or perhaps you can start a tradition that whoever carves the turkey each year gets to wear the turkey hat. The possibilities are endless!
No matter how you are spending the holiday this year (with funny turkey hat, or sans funny turkey hat), the We Know Products team wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving!
If you go on Amazon and search for “handheld massager,” you will find dozens and dozens of clones of the same $100 massage gun. My immediate reaction upon seeing this was that there is no longer any innovation in the massager industry. Instead of actually investing in R&D to come up with more advanced ways to help customers, massager companies seem content to copy one another and compete on price.
One company gives me hope. That company is NAIPO, a well-known massager brand whose stated mission is to help people all over the world “Find Well-being.” NAIPO’s latest handheld massager features a brand new design that provides added value for the user. While it is still a percussion massager, its sleek comfort-grip handle grants access to otherwise inaccessible areas of the body. It also features 5 interchangeable massager heads so that you are able to treat each acupuncture point with the best possible massage.
This attention to detail creates a truly customizable experience. After a workout or just a long day at work, you can choose from 5 different speed levels and 5 different working modes, from gentle relaxation to vigorous, deep-tissue massage. By virtue of the extended front grip, you can give exactly the right type of massage to previously neglected muscles all over your body.
A common complaint about percussion massagers is the noise level that can make it awkward or even impossible to use in public. The new NAIPO handheld massager is different. Unlike its competitors, it provides amazing results with only a single massage head. This has the twin effect of reducing noise levels and making it lighter and therefore less unwieldy, a huge plus especially for older users.
The NAIPO XF-5120 handheld massager will be available for purchase soon, and at $52.99 it is inarguably cheaper than similar products on the market. You get your very own either at NAIPO’s own storefront on naipocare.com or on Walmart.com. Stay tuned for more updates!