Browse links
US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Spring weather can be as unpredictable as that guy you just swiped right on, so you might as well prepare with both indoor and outdoor activities.
I gifted this to my mom and it's been such a hit! All you have to do is fill the stand with water, dip the bamboo brush in, and start creating! It's surprisingly super soothing and is great because you don't have to think long and hard about what to draw since it disappears anyways! It's a great practice in the "art of letting go" and is honestly a lovely way to spend an hour unwinding.
Promising review: "I work at a college in an environment where I am stressed out a lot, but I also have a lot of stressed out college students in my office! The Buddha Board is incredibly soothing to 'paint' on (only requires water and helps remind me that tough days will fade away just like my artwork does. Several of my coworkers have this in their office too. And, of course, it's great when you're not stressed out too — just fun to play with!" —Violet Kayjee
Get it from Amazon for $34.95.
Promising review: "Best purchase! We bought it for the kids but my husband and I stayed up until 1 a.m. playing!! It was a hit at our party! Great quality. Yes, you can hit the bar and release the discs, but it hasn't happened to us and wouldn't be a big deal if it did! Totally worth it! So glad we got it!!" —Rechel B
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
This set comes with 15 nail art design brushes, 5 drawing/dotting pens, 10 assorted nail striping tapes, 12 foil stickers, and 2 boxes of rhinestones.
Promising review: "This was a great find! I’m having fun experimenting with everything! It includes a nice selection of skinny striping tape colors and they stick very well. I would’ve liked for it to have included black, but I’ll live. :) I love the size and color of the pretty little stones and the foils rock! I’m happy with the brushes and the dotting tools also. Just so you know, the dotting tools are all the same size on one end and five different sizes on the other end, which is adequate for me. Everything came neatly packaged. The entire set is thumbs up from me!" —Lyon B.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four combos).
LetsMakeFunStuff is a small business that primarily sells mini stamps. Each token has three clues on it and can easily be reused time and time again!
Get a set of 30 from LetsMakeFunStuff on Etsy for $16.99.
Promising review: "Ahhh I love these so much, takes doodling to a whole new level! It's an anxiety relief like you wouldn't believe. Plus my kids also get a kick out of them. These are so worth it and I'm going to be keeping these stocked up!" —Katie Toomey
Get it from Amazon for $9.34.
Promising review: "We always play this with my nephew at Cracker Barrel, so giving him his own set for Christmas seemed like a good idea! It is fun to have the large oversized mat to play on with the large checkers, the kids really like it. Having the option of tic-tac-toe on the back side of the mat makes it even more fun because there are multiple options for play." —Jessica Dennis
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
Promising review: "I’m 17 and I loved this. In the intro it says the page instructions are all up to interpretation, so if it says 'spill your drink' or something you can take that literally or choose to paint on it with something such as tea or coffee that’ll look like brown watercolor. Which I love that it’s bizarre prompts but that you have wiggle room if you don’t want to do anything too crazy. I would recommend this if you’re just looking for something fun or if you’re going through some challenges this is really helpful to distract/express/push yourself!" —Marlee
Get it from Amazon for $9.59.
FarmSteady is a small business based in both Brooklyn and the Catskills in New York that sells a variety of kits to make exciting food at home. This specific kit comes with baking mix, baking yeast, and gel food coloring.
Get it from FarmSteady for $29.95.
Promising review: "I was very pleased. Came with everything you need. Colors are beautiful and it's a great little project to pass the time and ease anxiety. Thank you. Will order from seller again soon." —Lauren Constance
Get it from Amazon for $8.99.
Thanks to a handy lil' tortilla press from Verve Culture, making my own tortillas at home isn't much of a challenge at all. The press is made in Mexico from old Singer sewing machines and other recycled irons! The cast-iron should last you, basically, forever so it's definitely worth your money. I still can't believe how easy they were to make! We used Maseca's corn flour (the bag has instructions on the back how to make the tortillas) and it was so simple. They came out *so* well I was beyond impressed with myself.
Get it from Verve Culture or Amazon for $48.
Check out my full review of the Verve Culture tortilla press.
I admittedly am someone who thrives while working out at the gym, but there are many exercises I've been dying to try and don't because I don't want to embarrass myself. Boxing is one of them. Luckily, I can start practicing my skills (and break a decent sweat!) at home while playing this super-fun game on the Nintendo Switch. I use this game as a way to mix up my exercises / when I don't feel like venturing out to the gym. I have to say, it's a SERIOUS workout. I'm usually sore for days after and have burnt up to 300 calories in 30 minutes! If you get tired of the provided songs, mute your TV and turn on your favorite workout playlist — a great hack, if you ask me! The newest version of this game will combine your stats with the original, so no worries if you've already been playing Fitness Boxing for years!
Get it from Amazon for $49.99.
I've also been using this game as a way to supplement my trips to the gym. This may seem like a childish adventure from Nintendo, but JEEZ within moments I'm sweating my butt off. To play, you'll place a JoyCon into both the ring con and a leg strap so your movements are monitored. To move through each level you have to physically run in place and each time you "battle" an enemy you have to do 15 reps of an exercise of your choosing. For example, each time I complete a squat the enemy receives a "kick." It's so fun I don't realize I'm working out until the game reminds me to take a break and have some water. It even monitors your heart rate for you. It's more intense than you'd expect!
Get it from Amazon for $69.88.
Promising review: "New game for the family! I was not familiar with bocce, but saw this pop up on Amazon and thought it looked like fun to try. Came in a nice little case, and I found as long as I left the cardboard in the case it kept it sturdy. Balls are nice-looking, and have held up after many games. This game reminds me a lot of bowling-miniature bowling. Fun family game!" —D.D.
Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available with resin balls or soft rubber ones).
I was gifted a year of Book of the Month for my birthday one year and to date it is one of the best things I've received. There are few things as satisfying as getting truly lost in the pages of a good book. Each month you'll be permitted to choose one of four books, all of which are different genres. Then the book you selected will be delivered to your door. Magic! Excuse me, I need to re-up my subscription.
Get three months from Book of the Month for $49.99.
It's the thinnest and lightest Kindle Amazon has released to date! And — as is made abundantly clear by the photo above — it's 100% waterproof. I'm typically a hardcover girl through-and-through, but I recently gave the Kindle a whirl. It's very convenient to be able to slip it into any bag without it taking up much real estate and the transition between pages is very smooth.
Promising review: "I love the fact that I can read on this Kindle in both daylight and dim light conditions. It is so light and compact, which makes it easy to hold, easy to travel with, and the battery lasts forever. I love it." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in four colors).
And check out our full breakdown of the Kindle Paperwhite here.
We all know a game of Monopoly can go on for a long, long time.
Promising review: "Got this for my girlfriend for Valentine's Day. She loves everything about it. The 'chance' and 'community chest' cards make great references to the show. She loves playing this during her girls' nights." —Elias Gongora
Get it from Amazon for $22.68.
The kit comes with pruning shears, a transplanter, a trowel, a weeder, a hand rake, a cultivator, gloves, a sprayer, 25 plant labels, 12 butterfly stakes, 50 meters of plant rope, a sowing seeds dispenser, a pistol grip dibber, a seedlings dibber and widger, knee pads and a garden tool bag.
Promising review: "I bought this for my wife who spends up to 3 hours a day in our yard. Recreating our lot into a magnificent triumph of indigenous flowers and plants anyone horticulture lover would admire. She also tends to our garden with a variety of pickling and canning vegetables. After having my wife open the box she wasted no time putting the items to the test. She is very impressed with the durable bag. She likes how it keeps the tools outside so she can store seeds and whatever else on the inside. The tools themselves have a firm feel that you would have from a higher cost set. The number of accessaries is almost unbelievable that come in one set. Great product for an excellent price." —Joseph Zimmermann
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
What better way to kick off a new season than to learn something new? If you've already studied up on the meaning behind healing crystals and tarot cards, you might as well pick up tea leaf reading as well! TBH, I think I may need to get this one for myself.
Promising review (for the book): "This book was super cute and informative. I got it as a small activity to do with my mom for mother’s day, and it was really fun! It is great reference for someone who has no idea what they are doing, but it also goes in depth for when you get into it."—Emily Morgan
Get them from Amazon: Tea Leaf Reading: A Divination Guide for the Bottom of Your Cup for $5.95, a loose tea sampler set for $28.99, and a mug for $14.99+ (available in four styles).
My dad got one of these to test out and has been so excited to take his grilling *and* backyard game to the next level. Not only does this fire pit look awesome and provide a cozy place for your family to hangout, but because it's made with a specific COR-TEN material you'll be able to cook all kinds of things right along the edges. Pretty freakin' cool. If you'd rather *not* place your steak directly on the pit, you can go for their grill grate and cook it above the flames.
Get it from Breeo for $349.
The kit comes with 9 full-size Hershey bars, 1 bag of marshmallows, and 2 packs of graham crackers. If you're not great at math (ahem, me) that makes 18 s'mores! You might also want to grab these reusable roasting skewers for the full experience.
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
I always try to map out my exercise plan before I hit the gym, otherwise I'll idle around and wander aimlessly from machine to machine. I'm even more likely to waste precious time trying to find a routine to follow when I'm at home. These cards will solve your workout-planning woes immediately!
Promising review: "These cards are *amazing.* I love that I can schedule my workout week sensibly and safely — I really appreciate the tips on the backs of the cards! The calorie burn is accurate, if not a bit conservative. Lifting heavier will burn more, but the suggested burn is near perfect for lighter lift days. The HIIT and Core cards are such a nice bonus, too! My favorite part of this item is that I can do my workout at my pace without any annoying outdated music or chatting from a trainer, like you'd find on a DVD. I get burned out easily from repetition (as in, the same dry jokes or WOO! in a DVD), and have bagged MANY workout programs, but these cards are perfect for keeping me excited about my fitness!" —Lori McCarthy
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
Crafts are a great way to take your mind off of other things. Give this kit a try — if for some reason it doesn't help distract you, at the very least you'll learn how to make soap!
Promising review: "My son and I have been thinking of making soap for a while. But kept putting it off due to the cost of having to buy everything. This kit was right within my budget and made making soap so fun and easy! It comes with an ocean breeze scent that smells great and my son loves having soap he made in the bathroom!" —Deena
Get it from KiwiCo for $29.95.
The set also comes with instructions on how to make the BIGGEST bubbles possible!
Promising review: "The wand is awesome, but even MORE awesome is that I just used regular Super Miracle Bubbles bubble solution (way cheaper, found anywhere) and it worked just as well. Maybe better. Some people in reviews have said that you must use the packets that come with the wand, but I gave it a shot anyway with regular bubbles (Super Miracle Bubbles) and it worked just fine, with no noticeable difference." —Lauri
Get it from Amazon for $14.95.
BetterCo. is a small business that's been making puzzles since 2019. You might want to add a puzzle roller into your cart as well so you can work on it while sitting outdoors!
Promising review: "My wife is an ardent puzzle aficionado and was really pleased and obviously felt challenged when she received this puzzle. She says it is 'going to take quite a while' to work on this one! That is good as she is not very challenged by most puzzles." —Ken S.
Get it from Amazon for $25.
You and your partner can spend an entire night brainstorming fun at-home or socially distanced date ideas, write them down on popsicles or use the prompts that are written on each one, then take turns drawing from the tin each weekend.
Promising review: "My friend and her partner LOVED this. They have been trying to grow closer after seven years together romantically and 50+ years of being friends. It brought them excitement and joy. I want to buy myself and my boyfriend one. They are in their seventies. We are in our twenties. It is a gift for all ages that keeps on giving!" —Cady
Get it from Uncommon Goods for $18.
Promising review: "I am a grad student in a very strenuous program and I like staying busy that way. But on breaks, when I have too much time, I sink into nothingness. I didn't expect this book to do much, especially since I thought 'mindfulness' was some BS. Even if it's the same prompts every day, it's what you make out of the book. I like mentally checking off the three small accomplishments I held myself accountable for in ink, somehow the book is better than my Post-it note to-do lists. And the main reason for the five stars, it helps with my depression." —KellBell
Get it from Amazon for $14.25.
The kit comes with three skeins of petite wool, wooden knitting needles, the sewing pattern, a small knitter's sewing needle, and an embroidered label.
Promising review: "Perfect for beginners and very easy to make! The year is very soft and squishy. My daughter is going to love this once I finish it. Highly recommend fo beginners or any level knitter." —HLC0987
Get it from We Are Knitters for $63 (available in 15 colors).
Promising review: "We've wanted a pizza oven for a long time. The regular oven only gets to about 550 degrees F and the BBQ doesn't cook the top of the pizza well enough. Then this amazing thing comes along. It delivers as promised. Read to launch pizzas in 20 minutes. In fact I found that lower than max temp worked perfectly and avoided the over-charred crust. The 16-inch size is nice to allow room to maneuver 12–13" pies around to cook them evenly. I used the provided dough recipe with success so far. I look forward to trying some other crust types. If you are on the fence about this, listen: Buy it! Nothing easier than gas. Pizzas on my second try came as good as the best restaurant pizzas I've had. Keep the toppings light and you will love it too." —matthekman
Get it from Williams Sonoma for $499.
My mother-in-law absolutely loves her Cricut — it's one of her favorite gadgets. She loves using it to craft cards for all of the family, accents for holiday meals, and to personalize gifts. It's a fun and easy way to unwind while also feeling like you've been productive with your down time.
Promising review: "I love my Cricut Maker! I waited too long to get this. If you’re on the fence just get it because it’s awesome. I’ve made a number of personalized cards and gifts and my family and friends absolutely love them. I also label things for my 2-year-old (at home and for school) and decorated my house! Love love love!!! I get ideas on Pinterest and there’s lots of Facebook groups you can join for even more ideas. Worth the money and works way better than I thought it would. It makes tiny little cuts for detailed pieces. Did I already mention how much I love it? Also they come out with new tools which makes your potential projects limitless!" —Stephanie N
Get it from Amazon for $329+ (available in four colors).
Me and my mother-in-law recently got our hands on this new gadget and, with some practice, nailed the crafting process. The Cricut Mug Press doesn't need to connect to Bluetooth like the other gadgets, it heats up and the transfer of the design is done by hand. You'll need a Cricut machine to actually do the cutting beforehand. Don't forget to order some mugs — you'll find yourself wanting to make a whole slew of designs right off the bat.
Promising review: "This mug press is amazing, especially if you’re limited on space! Traditional heat presses with mug attachments and regular mug presses are bulky and take up a good chunk of space. I love that I can easily pack it up and put is away when I’m not using it. The mugs came out amazing! I really like that I don’t need to figure out the heat and time settings; it automatically detects the temperature of the mug, room, etc. and determines how long to press and what temperature is needed. I’ve tried it with infusible ink and sublimation and it works amazing for both!" —lindasierra
Get it from Amazon for $199.99.
It comes with a doormat, paint, paintbrushes, and a stencil that's completely customizable! MichieBarnCo is a small business based out of Utah that sells wooden signs and doormats.
Get it from MichieBarnCo on Etsy for $25+ (available in four sizes).
Treat yourself to a fresh new set of colored pencils while you're at it!
Promising review: "I love coloring and I love cocktails, so this coloring book couldn't be more perfect! It's adorable and fun! I usually like to drink alcohol and color on my Friday nights, so this makes it even more fun!" —Ashley Moree
Get it from Amazon for $9.87.
Promising review: "I have a young golden retriever who would retrieve balls and Frisbees all day long if my arm could take it. Bought this and love it! I can throw the ball a lot farther and for more throws, so he gets more exercise. Love that I no longer need to bend over to pick up the ball or have to touch a slimy, sandy, filthy ball! It's quite intuitive to use and within about three throws you'll have it down perfectly. You can also use regular tennis balls with it." —J.Essie
Get it from Amazon for $6.27.
Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.