An Uncomplicated Gift List – 7 Items I ACTUALLY use

You guys (and gals!) keep asking me,  what are some cool things I enjoy using (beyond the obvious, firearms)?

So, here is an uncomplicated list of a 7 items I recommend... that I *actually* use. 

Every single item on this list I use on a regular basis, some for more than a year – or many years! They’ve brought enjoyment to my life, so I know they’ll do the same for you – whether you gift them to others, (or treat yourself)!

In no particular order…

1.  Kershaw BlackWash Drop Point Knife – I actually own the tanto style, but I’ve been using the drop point for a little longer and it’s slightly more affordable right now. Both are washed in a sort of black stone wash, something you’ll see in much more expensive knives. It has a delightfully smooth open and close that you don’t often see in knives of this price range. Its well made and a good price, plus it looks cool. Wins all around

 

2. Organic Aromas Diffuser Set – Many of you know from my posts, I’ve been using this for some time. It clears the air, keeps me energized while relieving stress and its plain fascinating to see this simple tech work! Technically, this is a “nebulizer” which means the oil is atomized.

This gift might seem girly (and YES your wife, mother, daughter or girlfriend – that covers all females ever, right? – Will adore this) but I know plenty of men who use and love this diffuser too! Unabashedly so

This is the BEST diffuser I’ve ever used, and is ALL GLASS. That last part is important. No one wants to breath in heated plastic floating through the air.  Because this is a nebulizer, it also means your precious oils go further and last longer than the steam versions. This particular set comes with a smart little chest with 6 organic aromatic oil bottles to start with (I’ve not gone through mine yet, and its been over a year so they last a long time). There’s also a designer set of oils for the extremely enthusiastic and curious (I own this too, its great! But if you’re trying to save money the 6 oil set is plenty).  There are also other designs, but I can only recommend the one I have because thats the one I’ve tested!

3.  Frontier Organic Gunpowder Green Tea– A great, economical, strong flavored green tea that will both relax and energize you for your day.  I’ve been drinking this tea since at least high school. Yep. While I experiment with countless other teas from all over the world (some I’ve picked up in person!) I just keep coming back to these little gems. Maybe it’s the name…

Frontier makes the best gunpowder green tea I’ve tasted (and I like my tea with strong flavors). Remember, this is loose leaf (that’s how all the cool kids drink it) so you’ll either need a tea ball OR go hardcore and just drink around the leaves.

 

4. Breville Duo Temp Pro Espesso Machine (Stainless Steel) – We covered tea, now how about when nothing will scratch that itch except a nice steaming cup of scrumptious high test caffeine? Yep. I own this espresso maker. After years I finally splurged to get it. 100% worth it.

It is a delight, and a quarter of the price of fancy dancy Italian ones. Its also fun to experiment and test your espresso & foam making skills. And shocker – it uses 1/4 of the coffee a regular maker or French press uses. So I’m actually saving money on coffee in the long run… Wild.

Bonus: Its almost all metal. The less plastic you have touching your hot water or coffee, the better the flavor and the better for your health! If you want to go the extra mile, I recommend these espresso cups (which can double as shot glasses shhh)  as well as their bigger cousins. 

 

5. uKeg Copper 64oz Pressurized Growler for Craft Beer – This growler has an old school 1920s speakeasy charm – but the tech is quite new school. Using Co2 chargers, it keeps your beer fresh for much longer than regular growlers. 2 weeks+  and some people have reported a month or more… but what heathens keep their fresh beer around for that long??

You can easily take it on trips, hikes, picnics… but please don’t take it to the range. Shooting & drinking don’t mix. Especially the stronger craft brews! It also comes in black & stainless steel, but I think the copper has the most charm. (note: be sure to buy some Co2 containers as well.)

 

6. ThermaCell Proflex Heated Insoles – I snagged these for this winter’s filming, hunting and shooting season. I hate cold toes. It can quickly ruin your outdoor fun when you’re worried about an emergency room visit for frostbite – you know, for most people…

So far they’ve worked like a charm! I’m even getting some for my mom (oops, I hope she isn’t reading this). They heat up just enough to keep my toes from falling off, and the remote control lets you turn them off or on again if your tootsies get too warm.  These are the rechargeable battery operated ones, so they are easier to swap out and use. There is another version that has a battery built in, but with discounts the rechargeable are cheaper right now.  I got the mediums, and my foot size is about 7.5-8 womens. Most guys will probably take the large or greater. The run time I’m personally finding is about 3 hours on high, longer on medium, even longer if you turn them off for a bit…logically.

7. Innova Heavy Duty Inversion Table – Many people over the years have told me miracle-like stories about inversion tables. Even as a kid I remember seeing my mom hanging on an inversion table, upside down like some bride of Dracula on our porch. You know. Just normal kid memories.

I’ve struggled with back problems (almost every vertebrae is out of line) for many, many years. This is due to hours of shooting in odd positions and now the extra hauling of heavy equipment to film and shoot etc. I started using this inversion table, and felt immediate relief (plus its less expensive and does the job just as well as other bigger name brands, even for heavier people.) Of course consult your doctor and factor in your personal needs and risks – but I find it works wonders for me and saves me buckets of money on future chiropractic. Plus it’s fun to feel like batman.

 

Bonus Round!  The Joy of Shooting Calendar – This ones because I know that if you’re here, you love shooting. It supports this mission, this community, and great non-profits. It’s full of beautiful photography & meaningful quotes to inspire and encourage you all year long! Shotguns, grenade launchers, desert eagles (& I’m just the token human holding them hehe)

There’s so much more that I love and can recommend. But let’s face it. You’ve got enough choices & decisions to make these days.

So I’ve kept this list simple, so you can give the most important gift of all to the people that matter, your TIME 🙂

Enjoy! – Kirsten