The debate as to whether or not parents should supply classroom supplies is not new. But as prices continue to rise, parents are growing more baffled as to how they can be expected by teachers to provide all the various glue sticks, colored pencils, rulers and other various items the incoming students might need.
What’s even more perplexing, however, is penalizing the children of parents who won’t (or can’t) provide them.
This was the case for Shanitta Nicole, who discovered her son received a zero grade in his new school for not bringing school supplies for the entire classroom.
Nicole was especially surprised by this reaction since she had already gone through the effort of making sure her son had every supply he needed from the school’s list, which was slightly different than the one they previously had.
And yet, the 7th grade teacher informed her son that he was still expected to provide for the classroom, not just himself. And, thus, a zero grade, for failing the assignment, so to speak.
Even though Nicole thought the rule was “weird,” she went out and bought the bulk items, which included tissues, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, pencils, Expo markers, and red pens.
And yet, the next week—her son still has a zero. Concerned, Nicole emailed her son’s teacher.
“I’m like, ‘hey…my student has a 83 in the class and everything else in the class is 100s and 98s and he still has a zero for something called ‘classroom supplies.’” she said in a video.
“‘We bought the supplies anyways, but I don’t feel like it’s the parents’ responsibility to supply your classroom. And I definitely don’t think it’s appropriate to assign a grade to students based off of whether or not they’ve supplied your class with supplies. That doesn’t make any sense.’”
And while Nicole’s email did get the teacher to reconcile the grade, there was no mention to her other concern regarding the responsibility for parents to provide the entire class with supplies.
“So, I emailed the principal because I just, I might be extra, but I just want to see what’s going on. Why do I have to buy supplies for the classroom?” the frustrated mom concluded.
Nicole’s video quickly went viral on TikTok, and several weighed in to agree that the teacher’s actions were misguided.
“That is so unfair!! Especially for the kids whose parents CANT afford groceries let alone classroom supplies,” one user wrote.
Another added, “You are not wrong. It is 100% ok for [the teacher] to ask for supplies, but mandate it for a grade? Absolutely not.”
And this point is truly what Nicole took umbrage with, as she noted several times in the comments. It has less to do with being asked to help and more to do with her son’s grade depending on it.
In a follow-up video, Nicole shared that the school principal did end up reaching out, notifying her that while, yes, teachers are allowed to ask for donations, it should never be mandated.
“What the teacher was trying to accomplish, but it definitely wasn’t appropriate,” the principal told Nicole.
While the teacher might have not handled this situation in the best way, it goes without saying that this is a larger systemic issue—one that isn’t exactly fair to parents, teachers and students alike.
Most public school teachers spend a significant amount of their own money on classroom supplies, to an average of $673 per year, according to a recent survey of more than 1,100 educators by the Association of American Educators (AAE). That number only goes up for teachers in high poverty schools.
At the same time, according to a 2022 survey with Savings.com, the typical parent also spends nearly $600 on school supplies. Plus things like clothes, backpacks, haircuts etc.
In the grand scheme of things, there’s no use placing full responsibility or blame onto teachers or parents. Because either way, students get caught in the crossfire. This is clearly a universal burden that needs attention.
The debate as to whether or not parents should supply classroom supplies is not new. But as prices continue to rise, parents are growing more baffled as to how they can be expected by teachers to provide all the various glue sticks, colored pencils, rulers and other various items the incoming students might need.
What’s even more perplexing, however, is penalizing the children of parents who won’t (or can’t) provide them.
This was the case for Shanitta Nicole, who discovered her son received a zero grade in his new school for not bringing school supplies for the entire classroom.
Nicole was especially surprised by this reaction since she had already gone through the effort of making sure her son had every supply he needed from the school’s list, which was slightly different than the one they previously had.
And yet, the 7th grade teacher informed her son that he was still expected to provide for the classroom, not just himself. And, thus, a zero grade, for failing the assignment, so to speak.
Even though Nicole thought the rule was “weird,” she went out and bought the bulk items, which included tissues, Clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, pencils, Expo markers, and red pens.
And yet, the next week—her son still has a zero. Concerned, Nicole emailed her son’s teacher.
“I’m like, ‘hey…my student has a 83 in the class and everything else in the class is 100s and 98s and he still has a zero for something called ‘classroom supplies.’” she said in a video.
“‘We bought the supplies anyways, but I don’t feel like it’s the parents’ responsibility to supply your classroom. And I definitely don’t think it’s appropriate to assign a grade to students based off of whether or not they’ve supplied your class with supplies. That doesn’t make any sense.’”
And while Nicole’s email did get the teacher to reconcile the grade, there was no mention to her other concern regarding the responsibility for parents to provide the entire class with supplies.
“So, I emailed the principal because I just, I might be extra, but I just want to see what’s going on. Why do I have to buy supplies for the classroom?” the frustrated mom concluded.
Nicole’s video quickly went viral on TikTok, and several weighed in to agree that the teacher’s actions were misguided.
“That is so unfair!! Especially for the kids whose parents CANT afford groceries let alone classroom supplies,” one user wrote.
Another added, “You are not wrong. It is 100% ok for [the teacher] to ask for supplies, but mandate it for a grade? Absolutely not.”
And this point is truly what Nicole took umbrage with, as she noted several times in the comments. It has less to do with being asked to help and more to do with her son’s grade depending on it.
In a follow-up video, Nicole shared that the school principal did end up reaching out, notifying her that while, yes, teachers are allowed to ask for donations, it should never be mandated.
“What the teacher was trying to accomplish, but it definitely wasn’t appropriate,” the principal told Nicole.
While the teacher might have not handled this situation in the best way, it goes without saying that this is a larger systemic issue—one that isn’t exactly fair to parents, teachers and students alike.
Most public school teachers spend a significant amount of their own money on classroom supplies, to an average of $673 per year, according to a recent survey of more than 1,100 educators by the Association of American Educators (AAE). That number only goes up for teachers in high poverty schools.
At the same time, according to a 2022 survey with Savings.com, the typical parent also spends nearly $600 on school supplies. Plus things like clothes, backpacks, haircuts etc.
In the grand scheme of things, there’s no use placing full responsibility or blame onto teachers or parents. Because either way, students get caught in the crossfire. This is clearly a universal burden that needs attention.
During a recent appearance on the ITV series James Martin’s Saturday Morning, the Ted Lasso star discussed working with Cruise on the eighth Mission: Impossible movie (formerly titledMission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two). “I have to say, I have a real problem with anybody that goes at [Tom Cruise] now,” Waddingham said, according to Variety. “Having met him and having spent five days intensely…He is without doubt one of the loveliest and encouraging, positive and inspiring human beings I have ever met. Isn’t he gorgeous? I have no time for anyone saying anything about him.”
Waddingham’s character remains a secret, unlike her love for Cruise.
This isn’t the first time Waddingham has sung Cruise’s praises. In an interview with Live with Kelly and Mark in March, the actress said, “I’ve met plenty of fabulous people. He is one of, if not the most inspiring, encouraging, warm, tactile, friendly to everyone, engaging… I mean seriously, he and I were literally like two 12-year-olds together.”
There needs to be a scene in M:I 8 where Waddingham and Cruise sing karaoke together. She already did “Let It Go” from Frozen on Ted Lasso. Maybe they could do another Disney song? I bet Cruise has the pipes for “A Whole New World” (“Hakuna Matata” is taken).
Mission: Impossible is scheduled to come out on May 23, 2025.
Shakira moved to Miami following her very public split from her longtime partner, the world footballing great Gerard Piqué, the father of her two sons. However, Barranquilla, Colombia will always be home, and it is now guaranteed that Shakira will lord over the city regardless of her physical location.
On Tuesday, December 26, a 21-foot bronze statue depicting Shakira from her “Hips Don’t Lie” video was unveiled. Per ABC News, the statue was sculpted by Yino Márquez, and The Guardiannoted, “The statue is large but not necessarily the largest pop icon statue to ever be erected. That accolade would seem to go to Forever Marilyn, a 26-ft tribute to the screen goddess Marilyn Monroe that now sits outside a tourism agency in Palm Springs, California.”
Shakira posted twice to Instagram to commemorate the honor, noting how happy she was to share the historic moment with her mother on her birthday. An Instagram carousel includes photos of her parents posing next to the statue and of her brother and father with the Mayor of Barranquilla.
Gracias al escultor Yino Márquez y a los estudiantes de la escuela distrital de artes por esta muestra del enorme talento artístico de la gente de mi tierra. pic.twitter.com/lR7ZQSO4Mx
However, the more interesting social media activity was how fans reacted. Someone posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I’d happily live under it.” Another person going by Chombe wrote, “This statue is bigger than Piqué’s career.” A user named DK (probably accurately) pointed out, “In 250 years, people are going to think this was a Spanish goddess.” Several more people anointed Shakira’s statue as superior to The Statue Of Liberty.
VIDEO: Colombian superstar Shakira’s Caribbean home city of Barranquilla has unveiled a 6.5-metre hip-swaying statue in her honour. The singer, an icon of Latina girl power, has sold around 80 million albums worldwide and won three Grammy awards. pic.twitter.com/xoHQZXzUEI
The final days of 2023 are upon us, and the NFL regular season is nearing its conclusion. Only two more weeks remain before the playoffs get underway, and all 32 teams are in action between Thursday and Monday. Week 16 wasn’t exactly fantastic for us, particularly on Saturday and Sunday, but a 2-3 result isn’t terribly dire. Still, we endeavor for more in advance of Week 17.
Before issuing this week’s picks, let’s take a glance at the season-long progress.
Week 16: 2-3
2023 Season: 41-35-4
Come get these winners.
TEASER: Cleveland Browns (-1.5) over New York Jets and New Orleans Saints (+8.5) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Widely Available
Joe Flacco revenge game?! The Browns’ defense is at least as good as the Jets defense, if not better, and Cleveland has the better offense playing at home with more to play for. I also tend to lean on home teams on Thursday evenings, so that one explains itself. I was tempted to grab New Orleans on its own but, once the line moved off of the key number of three, the Saints fit snugly into a teaser leg.
Washington Commanders (+13) over San Francisco 49ers — DraftKings
It’s Jacoby Brissett time. I personally think Brissett is better than Sam Howell and, at the very least, it’s not a downgrade. Washington is catching 13 at home here and, as the world tries to bank on a bounce-back from the Niners, we’ll be happy with a 10-point home loss.
TEASER: Jacksonville Jaguars (-0.5) over Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs (-1) over Cincinnati Bengals — Widely Available
Let’s call this our “get right” teaser. Trevor Lawrence’s status is in doubt, and the Jags have lost four in a row. However, Lawrence has never missed a game in his career, and Jacksonville should be able to get us to the window at home. Kansas City’s struggles have been well-documented, but we’re buying the dip here in a home game with real stakes.
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) over Las Vegas Raiders — Widely Available
The Colts are a bizarre football team, so this could go very poorly. I’ll acknowledge that. However, the Raiders had no business winning the game against the Chiefs last week. Because they did, Las Vegas is now a popular team and, admittedly, the defense is playing well. Still, Indianapolis has the juice to get this home for us.
Green Bay Packers (+2) over Minnesota Vikings — Widely Available
The Nick Mullens experience rolls along for the Vikings, and we’re going the other way. Minnesota just lost TJ Hockenson and injuries are piling up. While the Packers are not playing well at all on defense, they could create some havoc against Mullens. I also just trust Jordan Love more and we’re getting the two points. Let’s ride.
There have always been women at the forefront of hip-hop’s 50-year reign over pop culture, and perhaps none is more iconic than Queen Latifah. The “U-N-I-T-Y” rapper is widely acknowledged as one of the genre’s greatest of all time, and last night at the Kennedy Center Honors, she received loving tributes from some of her most iconic peers and proteges.
First up, Missy Elliott repaid Latifah for her touching Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction speech introduction, recalling hearing “Ladies First” for the first time as a teenager and having her life changed by Latifah’s “Queen” moniker and positive messaging.
Then, there were performances. Queen Latifah’s fellow hip-hop pioneers MC Lyte and Monie Love performed her signature hit “Ladies First,” with Lyte taking over Latifah’s verses and Monie performing her own.
Rapsody then performed one of Latifah’s best, but most underrated songs, “Just Another Day…” (Would have been cool if she performed “Hatshepsut,” the song on which they collaborated from Rap’s 2019 album Eve, but extra light being shed on the smooth Black Reign cut is never a bad thing.)
The Kennedy Center Honors simply seal a legendary legacy which includes such accolades as Grammys, Emmys, and Oscar nominations, as well as roles ranging acting to heading one of hip-hop’s first women-led labels. She is, indeed, an icon and a queen.
With the first installment of Rebel Moon now streaming on Netflix, critics and viewers can’t help but notice that the film feels an awful lot like a Star Wars movie. There’s a good reason for that.
Granted, Rebel Moon is not an official Star Wars movie, but it did start out as one. Zack Snyder has not been shy about revealing that the project started out as a pitch to Lucasfilm shortly before George Lucas sold the company to Disney. According to Snyder, the pitch was rejected, but over time, he mulled over making the story a standalone sci-fi series with its own cinematic universe.
Detaching the [Akira] Kurosawa-inspired movie from “Star Wars” didn’t prove difficult, as Snyder said there was no overlap in terms of characters between what he was developing at Lucasfilm and the other movies in the franchise. The director added about his isolated “Star Wars” movie, “It was me saying, ‘Give me the keys and let me take it for a spin.’”
However, the milage may vary on Snyder’s attempt to distance Rebel Moon from Star Wars. The film arrived with a brutally low Rotten Tomatoes score as critics eviscerated the film for repeating way too many of the same beats as the original Star Wars. (The characters wielding laser swords didn’t help.)
“In film school, some professors use the familiar example of Star Wars to teach Campbellian mythmaking, the theories that identify and codify the narrative units re-contextualized since Grecian times,” Charles Bramesco of The Guardian wrote. “Snyder demonstrates a clear fluency in these concepts with his classically minded scripting, except he forgot the part where the archetypes are meant to be refreshed through novel contexts.”
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire is streaming on Netflix.
One photo of promotional material, featuring a lip kit from her R.E.M. Beauty with a close-up photo of Grande’s red lips and a hand-written note reading, “See you next year”
A muted video of her mother, Joan, moving and grooving to what could only be music from the new album that we cannot hear, which is a cruel thing to do
A video of Grande curled up under a blanket on the couch, laughing and saying, “I’m so tired. I’m so happy and grateful. I also feel like I weigh 3,000 tons.”
So, yes, by all accounts (aside from an official release date being announced), Grande’s album will arrive sometime in 2024. And when it does, it will be her first since 2020’s Positions and end a nearly four-year drought — the longest-ever time elapsed between Grande albums.
Arctic Monkeys‘ 2013 song, “I Wanna Be Yours” has been slowly climbing the charts on Spotify this year, as it currently sits at No. 11 globally, thanks to a boost from TikTok and new listeners discovering it.
Here’s what to know about the lyrics behind the romantic track.
Arctic Monkeys’ “I Wanna Be Yours” Lyrics, Explained
The band’s song reached a billion streams earlier this year. However, what some might not know is that the song originally was a poem by John Cooper Clarke, who sat down for an interview with The Guardian about Arctic Monkeys’ success using it.
“Is that a lot?” Clarke had asked about the billion streams stat. “An American billion is different to a British billion – and I don’t know what either of them is. But it’s a f*ck of a lot of listens.”
Clarke first wrote it in 1982, and it gained popularity in the ’90s after being added to the UK school syllabus — which is where Arctic Monkeys’ Alex Turner first heard of it.
He also spoke with the publication about the line, “I wanna be your electric meter / I will not run out / I wanna be the electric heater / You’ll get cold without,” pointing out that he wanted the poem to be about “elevating yourself to the level of a commodity for the person of your desire. When you’re in love with somebody, you want to be useful to them, indispensable even.”
This year’s Uproxx Gift Guides are brought to you by Sirius XM. Check out their site to find all the holiday music and content you need to get into the giving spirit.
But otherwise, they might have swung and missed on a few — leaving you with gifts you’re not crazy about. To avoid letting a bunch of stuff fill up your basements or a future landfill, why not return it all and find one splurge-worthy, selfish item that you’ll actually use? We have some suggestions ranging from self-care to adventure to entertainment.
All 13 items on this list have been tested and vetted by our team.
Higher Dose Infrared PEMF Mat
HIGHER DOSE
Price: $1,295
Before we recommend a $1300 infrared mat, let’s just confirm one thing. Do you need this product? Not in the strictest sense. But if you’re looking for a splurge, I’m all about finding something that makes people feel physically and mentally better, and this mat is superb at that.
I was skeptical that a $1300 mat with amethyst crystals embedded into the fabric could do anything more than induce a severe placebo effect. But then I took a nap on it. I stretched on it. I lounged on it before bed. And every time I got on the mat, I felt better. I felt relaxed when I wanted to calm down. I felt energized when I needed a mid-afternoon boost. I slept more deeply and peacefully after using it than ever.
Is it a placebo effect? Maybe. Is it some mystical crystal science? Maybe. But it does something good for me and that’s what counts.
Here’s the brand touts its tech: The Higher Dose PEMF Infrared Mat combines PEMF (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field) technology with infrared therapy. The PEMF aspect works at a microscopic cellular level to create a gentle pulsing sensation that promotes increased circulation. Improved blood flow means more oxygen and nutrients helping muscles recover faster after a tough workout or a long day of desk surfing. Meanwhile, infrared rays penetrate deep into your muscles, melting away tension and stress. I’m not sure what they claim the crystals do but we all have at least one big crystal believer in our lives who will talk to us endlessly about their benefits — so chat with that person.
As someone who felt skeptical on this mat at first, I have to say — it’s like a spa day without leaving your living room. Something I can definitely get behind (especially when literally everyone seems to be talking about infrared therapy these days).
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re ready to prioritize wellness.
Whether you’re a seasoned road biker or someone keen on a road bike adventure, the Specialized Allez Sport road bike is a perfect option. Its lightweight aluminum frame and endurance-focused geometry will allow you to ride faster and longer, even if you’re just commuting to the office or cruising around town. If you’re keen on expanding the hobby beyond commuting and day trips, the bike can be built out if you want to tour or race. You can easily pop on a rack and stick panniers on the back filled with camping essentials if you want to go on a multi-day adventure or go bare bones if you want to break into the gritty, absurd world of cross-racing.
For me, I wanted an upgrade for commuting around town and something lightweight and efficient to expand my exercise regime to long road rides. I live in a bike-friendly city and I love skipping traffic and cruising to work on this bike. It’s often the best part of my day. On weekends, I love packing up panniers and riding from town to town on the coast or heading out to wine country for a ride with friends. I’ve found this bike to be the most versatile bike I’ve ridden — which is important when bikes cost this much.
It also looks beautiful. It’s sleek and comes in a range of colors. It’s a smooth ride and the components are crisp and efficient. In short, my tests proved this to be the Swiss Army knife of bikes.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re looking to pursue road biking as a hobby or are looking for a lightweight commuter that can also take you on weekend adventures.
Alright, hear us out. We get it. A food composter isn’t exactly the sexiest gift on your wishlist. But in a world where young folks are turning their apartments into jungles and attempting to channel their inner master gardeners to grow tomatoes off their balconies, (and let’s not forget the whole planet-saving aspect), an indoor electric composter might just be the unexpected gem on this list.
I’m no exception to the green-thumb craze. Last summer, I transformed my backyard into a haven of native plants – both edible and decorative. I went all out, dropping a couple hundred dollars to ship 2000 garden worms across the country to give my soil some much-needed TLC. But as far as at-home composting goes, I’ve never had much patience.
I’ve dabbled with compost bins before, but dealing with rodents, squirming maggots, and the agonizingly slow composting process was more trouble than it was worth. Enter Reenacle – the indoor electric food composter that turns your food waste into compost gold in just 24 hours. It’s like the human body of composting tech, emulating the digestive system with microbes and automatic mixing rods.
We all know composting is a big move to reduce waste, but for city dwellers without easy access to compost services, it can be a mission. Reenacle makes it stupidly simple, and the satisfaction of watching your kitchen scraps morph into compost is borderline addictive.
As for aesthetics? The Reencle is sleek and unobtrusive. It’s quiet and (almost) odor-free. Sure, if you’re running a farm, the output might not cut it, but for balcony tomatoes or a small backyard veggie patch, Reenacle can provide all the compost you need. The best part? You can toss in over two pounds of food per day, and the microbes that come with it are self-perpetuating and low-maintenance.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a city dweller with a green heart, or just tired of playing host to rodents in the name of compost.
Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron 5 or 9 Piece Cookware Set
LE CREUSET
Price: $575-$1,170
We’re diving into the heart of culinary indulgence with a name that resonates in every foodie’s soul – Le Creuset. When it comes to leveling up in the kitchen, Le Creuset was the natural choice for a splurge-worthy cooking item because their pots and pans are iconic. Getting one in my family is always a golden ticket gift. They’re beautiful, durable, and truly versatile in the kitchen. And better yet, they’re legacy items.
That’s not just lip service – I have a Le Creuset that’s older than I am that’s still in perfect condition. But they’re not a product for your grandparents to appreciate. Young folks are obsessed too. #lecreuset had over 60 million views on TikTok recently. That’s not a trend; it’s a testament to the enduring allure of these cooking holy grails.
For those of us still honing our skills in the culinary arena, the Le Creuset 5-Piece Ensemble is a game-changer. It’s not just about having a fancy pot; it’s about having the right tools to turn your kitchen experiments into culinary triumphs. From the iconic Dutch oven, the undisputed hero of the kitchen, to the skillet and saucepan, this ensemble covers all bases.
A newbie like me is quick to wonder: does cookware make a difference in the food? Short answer: yes. Absolutely. In my brief journey into the world of fancy pots, I’ve experienced recipes actually turning out as described, and let me assure you, it has nothing to do with my nonexistent cooking talents.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a cooking newbie or a cooking pro.
Stand up paddleboarding has been having a moment. It opens up access to waterways, is a great workout, and is instant access to a peaceful mind. It’s also the kind of activity that invites everyone to the party – no elite skills required. And when it comes to minimal barriers to entry, the Waterwalker 126 is the MVP. This board is your passport to tranquility on still waters.
Whether you’re navigating calm lakes or tackling a bit of chop, this board handles it all with finesse. The design strikes a perfect balance between nimbleness and stability – a dream for paddlers of all levels. I’ve even tossed a dog on board, and the thing stayed steady.
The best part is that the board is inflatable, which means easy storage and easy transport. There’s no wrestling with tying it onto roof racks and worrying about it flying off on the freeway. You can toss it in the car for a camping trip and since it fits into a backpack, you can walk it to the water access point without much struggle. The board inflates faster than other models I’ve tried and the design of the board is easy to carry.
If you’re ready to elevate your summer water-cruising game, this Thurso Waterwalker 126 is your golden ticket. Consider it an investment in your aquatic escapades. Embrace the waves, my friends, and paddle on!
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if accessing natural waterways is an important part of your mental and physical wellness or if you’re looking for a new activity to heighten your summer days.
For the audio aficionados out there, here’s a recommendation: the Bower and Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones. They’re the unsung hero of noise-canceling headphones. They don’t have the name recognition of Beats or Bose, but they deliver a sound experience that rivals and even surpasses many of their more widely recognized counterparts. Music, movies, podcasts – it all sounds fantastic.
Talking practicality, the battery life is impressive, which is a must for wireless headphones. But the best part is the comfort and fit of the design. I can comfortably wear these headphones for an entire long day of travel without making my ears ache or my head feel pinched. The memory foam ear cups are comfortable and the fit is snug without feeling like your brain is in a vice.
Speaking personally, noise-canceling headphones are especially important for anyone in your life who struggles to maintain focus throughout the day or who gets easily distracted by the office noise or coffee shop clatter around them. They’re also great for people who travel often – long days in noisy airports or daily commutes on public transport.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy them for yourself if you need to drown out the constant din of noise and listen to what you want to listen to clearly and fully — that’s absolutely splurge-worthy in my opinion.
I had no interest in lying on a mat of six thousand spikes poking me in the back until a friend described the deep relaxation she experiences after using an acupressure mat as the same feeling she has after really great sex. Naturally, I was convinced. I got the Blissfoam Acupressure mat and pillow from Shakti and while I can’t say I have the same level of devotion to the acupuncture mat as this friend does (who somehow gets so relaxed on the spikes that she falls asleep on them), I was surprised by how much I felt the effects of it.
The first few minutes feel, frankly, awful. It feels like you’re lying on a bed of nails, which… you sorta are. But about ten minutes in, my back got warm and my muscles started releasing. By 20 minutes the pain sensation gave way to a deep body relaxation. By 30 minutes, I was almost asleep.
The way it works is actually quite simple: lying on the spikes activates hundreds of acupoints on the back, which promotes circulation, releases tension, and restores natural energy flows in the body. Acupuncture mats are rooted in the centuries-old yogic tradition of lying on a bed of nails.
“We believe that getting comfortable with the uncomfortable is a force for good,” the company says. The products are handmade in India – the birthplace of acupressure. They donate 10% of their profits to well-being initiatives in India each year. Shakti is so confident you’ll get hooked, they offer a 60-day trial with the mat. I’m two weeks in and have no intentions of sending mine back.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a yogi who wants to take their practice to another level or if you want to confirm whether lying on a bed of nails can truly emulate post-sex levels of relaxation.
I’m sneaking in an unsung hero of comfort: a weighted blanket. Specifically, the Bearaby weighted blanket – the underdog of coziness, especially for all the anxiety-riddled souls out there. A weighted blanket isn’t exactly the coolest or sexiest gift to give someone, but trust me, if you toss this blanket on your drained lover at the end of a long day, it’ll reset their mood.
Every anxiety-leaning friend has told me to get a weighted blanket for years, and when I finally got one, I understood why. Weighted blankets are like being enveloped in a hug and the gentle weight provides an immediate sense of security and tranquility. (There’s science to back this up!)
Bearaby knows how to do a weighted blanket right. Their design is a masterpiece of comfort and aesthetics. No plastic beads or artificial fillings; just layers of organic cotton or Tencel woven in a chunky knit pattern that’s as visually appealing as it is comfortable.
So as far as a splurge-worthy gift goes (these are $200 blankets!) Bearaby weighted blankets are a really sweet way to remind yourself, “I care about my well-being” without flashy gadgets and over-the-top extravagance. It’s the simple pleasure of feeling snug and secure.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re someone who often needs an emotional reset but who also wants it to be a blanket that looks good in your home.
The Hatch Restore 2 is now my favorite thing in my bedroom. It’s a smart alarm clock, sunrise lamp, and sound machine that can transform your bedroom into a sleep sanctuary. That’s not an exaggeration. The first night I used it, I fell asleep listening to a guided meditation, which then gave way to light rainfall until a gentle morning sunrise and the sound of singing bowls woke me up the next morning.
But the best part? It allows me to leave my phone in another room while I sleep. Between the doom scrolling, middle of the night email check, and accompanying 4 am cortisol boost, and then getting jolted awake by the abrupt alarm sounds the iPhone provides, my phone was a force of destruction in the bedroom. Now, I leave my phone in the other room after choosing from a wide library of dreamscapes or sleep stories to fall asleep to and which chimes or birdsongs I want to awake to.
The Hatch Restore 2 is beautifully designed – with a linen fabric cover unlike other plastic-heavy smart alarm clocks, which has the added benefit of diffusing the light in a gentle way. You can create personal morning or night routines on your phone, combining lights and sounds to create the perfect experience you need to relax or rise.
For those who wish they were morning birds, the 30-minute gradual defused sunrise light feature gently wakes you up before the alarm goes off. For those light sleepers who have ever wanted to kick their snoring partners, the white noise options have the power to save a relationship. And for those whose brains start to race the moment they lie down, the curated library of guided meditations or sleep stories will give your mind something to focus on as it relaxes into sleep.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you want to build better sleep habits in a hurry!
We couldn’t write a splurge-worthy gift guide without a Vitamix. They’re too good and too versatile. If you’re the type of human who tosses veggies into their smoothies in the morning, the Vitamix will blend them up so well that you won’t even know they’re there.
Vitamix is a no-frills blender. There’s not an insane amount of blending options. There isn’t a built-in computer with a touch screen. It’s straightforward and does the job perfectly — ready to tackle anything you throw its way. Nut butter, frozen desserts, hot soups – the Vitamix Gold Label handles it all with finesse.
The Vitamix has five intuitive settings – smoothies, hot soups, dips and spreads, frozen desserts, and self-cleaning, taking the guesswork out of blending. From silky smoothies to velvety soups and everything in between, this blender delivers perfection every time. The design of the blender is aesthetically sleek and they now come in a variety of colors. I got the green and love that it’s not another stainless steel appliance on my counter.
This blender is so well made, it’s one of those high price tags that makes sense.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if blended foods are a big part of your diet or if you simply want to level up the tools in your kitchen arsenal.
For movie lovers like myself, a quality projector is a fabulous splurge item. The Xgimi MoGo2 Pro projector is a fantastic option to create a cinema-worthy experience in your home. The best thing about it is that it’s extremely portable. It’s small and can easily transform any space into your theater. Whether you’re in the backyard, living room, or even on a road trip in a dingy motel room, this projector can create a beautifully immersive viewing experience.
The visuals are top-notch. The colors are vivid and accurate and the images are crystal clear. It has full HD resolution and HDR10 support, so every frame is vibrant. It also has Android TV built-in, so you can access streaming services and apps too. The device also has built-in Harman-Kardon speakers, delivering immersive audio that complements the visual prowess.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself if you’re a movie lover, a gamer, or are that person who loves to throw those karaoke parties your friends hate to go to.
You need a Polaroid in your repertoire and this is the new gen. It’s the first Polaroid to have manual light controls plus a wider aperture — providing you with a chance to practice analog photography in real time. The photos you get are better (and far more consistent) than what you can get with a classic Polaroid camera. The blurry photos and over or under-lit pics are far rarer. There’s a crisper focus and richer depth of field.
That’s all very important. Especially considering that the price of an individual Polaroid photo is about $2.
The tagline on this camera is “Designed for craft” and I certainly agree with this assessment. I’m still practicing but I am fully hooked and my photos are better than ever. Whereas the classic Polaroid is great for weddings, parties, and days at the lake, the I-2 is the one to use if you really care about creating professional results.
There’s a little bit of a learning curve, but I found this so helpful:
Price-wise, this camera is extremely affordable. It’s the aforementioned Polaroid film that gets pricey. Still, a Polaroid is just so much fun — how can you not have one in your camera quiver? It’s so rewarding to share a tangible object rather than texting pics to friends. And the I-2 is the top of the line.
It’s the camera I use the most right now and a great entry point for anyone wanting to learn more about analog photography.
— Steve Bramucci
BUY IT FOR:
Buy this for yourself if you have even a passing interest in getting awesome analog photos. I bring mine everywhere — especially to travel.
Toilet paper is over. It’s dated. The end is nigh. Smart toilets are better on every level. Cleaner. Sexier. Gentler. More elegant.
How did humans ever get convinced that wiping with paper was the way to go? What is wrong with our species?
I don’t want to make us all a tad uncomfortable by laying out all the benefits of this toilet but let me just say that “warming”, “oscillating”, and “multi-directional” are all part of the key specs. The seat is heated and the water is heated and there’s a dryer — so it’s an overall pleasant experience.
It’s also self-cleaning — a huge benefit that is rarely mentioned about smart toilets.
Listen, I could wax philosophic about smart toilets for days (I sorta did in a recent article about hotels) but here’s all you need to know: Once you get a smart toilet, you won’t ever want to go back to toilet paper.
BUY IT FOR:
Buy it for yourself because you deserve to feel clean and comfortable and relaxed. Plus everyone who visits your house will love it.
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