Home Smart by AE Mind
A dedicated outdoor pizza oven is another big piece of gear to buy and store. If you already have a grill in the backyard, there’s an easier way to get a crispy homemade pizza. Geras sent me its Geras HeatGuard Pro Pizza Oven for Grill, and I put it right on top of my charcoal […]
Most homemade slushies start with a blender full of ice, and by the time you’re done, the drink tastes watered down. I wanted to see if there was a better way. COWSAR sent me its COWSAR Frozen Drink and Slushie Machine, and I tested it by turning plain pineapple juice into a frozen drink, with […]
I spend a lot of hours typing away on my laptop, and sitting at a desk all day isn’t always the most comfortable setup for my back. Stacking pillows behind me in bed never really worked either. That’s why I’ve been using the Tami Tami T450 Adjustable Bed Frame for both relaxing and working from […]
Snoring, traffic, barking dogs, noisy neighbors. It only takes one sudden sound to wake you up at 2am. And if you’ve ever tried sleeping in regular earbuds, you know they stick out and press into your ear the second you roll onto your side. Ozlo sent me its Ozlo Sleepbuds 2, and unlike regular earbuds, […]
Leftovers that go bad, meat with freezer burn, and meal prep that doesn’t last the week all mean wasted food and money. A vacuum sealer pulls the air out of the bag, which keeps food fresher for longer. I really love the MOMODA Vacuum Sealer because it makes storing food super easy and keeps everything […]
The bathroom is one of the last rooms in the house to get smart, but a smart toilet might be the upgrade you notice most every day. A built-in bidet, a heated seat, a warm air dryer, and hands-free flushing add up to a cleaner, more comfortable routine. The Casta Diva Smart Toilet brings a […]
Dark corners of the yard, fence lines, and steps are where you want light at night, and they’re usually the hardest places to run wiring. Solar fence lights solve that: mount them, let the sun charge them, and they light the area on their own. I tried the Yivsen Solar Fence Lights, and in my […]
Garages, porches, and patios almost always have a light fixture, but not always an outlet where you need it. A light socket adapter turns that fixture into a power source without calling an electrician. I was sent the UYODM 3-in-1 Light Socket Adapter and tested it with a standing lamp in my living room. This […]
There’s something about a snow cone that takes you right back to being a kid. Carnival snow cones and summer treats are great, but making them at home with the family is even better, as long as the machine actually makes fluffy ice instead of crunchy chunks. I made snow cones with my nieces using […]
Doing makeup in a dim bathroom, or with a tangle of cords for the hair dryer and curling iron, makes getting ready harder than it needs to be. A vanity with good lighting, storage, and power built in puts everything in one place. I was sent the Garvee Vanity Desk, and I actually got it […]
Overhead lights leave shadows exactly where you’re working: on the countertop, the desk, or inside a display cabinet. Under counter lighting fills in those dark spots, and puck lights are one of the easiest ways to add it. I installed the AIBOO LED Under Counter Lighting kit under my table, and it lit up the […]
A dark walkway isn’t just uninviting, it’s a tripping hazard. Wired landscape lighting looks great but means digging trenches and running cable. Solar pathway lights skip all of that: stake them in, let the sun charge them, and they turn on by themselves at night. I really like the ALFIOT Solar Pathway Lights because they […]
A labeled home is an organized home. Spice jars, pantry bins, storage boxes, cables, and chargers all get easier to find when everything has a clean label on it. The problem is that old-school label makers are bulky, need special cartridges, and are a pain to type on. I tried the ORGBRO X1 Label Maker, […]
When someone at home needs help, shouting across the house or texting a phone they can’t find isn’t a great system. A simple intercom fixes that. Push a button, talk, and the other person hears you right away. I tested the CallToU 2-Way Intercom, a pair of rechargeable walkie talkies with big push-to-talk buttons that […]
Some lights are just for seeing. Others change the whole feel of a room. A jellyfish lamp is the second kind: a little glowing tank where jellyfish drift around in slowly changing colors. It’s relaxing to look at, and it makes a great night light. I set up the Eyesound Jellyfish Lamp and gave it […]
Hair in the bathroom drain is gross, and sooner or later it turns into a slow drain or a full clog. The easiest fix is to stop the hair before it ever gets into the pipe, and that’s exactly what a stopper with a built-in strainer does. I decided to give my bathroom sink a […]
Fumbling for keys with your hands full, wondering if you locked the door after you left, or handing out spare keys to family and guests all get old fast. A smart door lock with a fingerprint reader and keypad fixes all of that. I replaced the knob on my front door with the EUUKAITARY Smart […]
In a small bathroom, every inch counts. A standard toilet can eat up the space between the wall, the vanity, and the door, and make the whole room feel cramped. A compact one-piece toilet keeps full functionality in a smaller footprint. The CANEST Compact Toilet has been a solid option for a smaller bathroom where […]
Between pets, cooking smells, dust, and wildfire season, the air inside a home can get stale fast. An air purifier with a real air quality sensor takes the guesswork out of it, because it shows you what’s going on and speeds up when the air gets worse. I set up the MOOKA EPI360 Air Purifier […]
Fumbling for keys with your hands full, wondering if you locked the door, or handing out spare keys to family. A regular deadbolt makes all of that harder than it needs to be. Veise sent me its Veise VE027-K WiFi Smart Lock, and I installed it on my front door. It’s been a solid upgrade. […]