Just 11 Things You Might Want To Try In October

Because we tried them in September.

1. A set of reusable netted produce bags for a greener version of the small plastic ones the grocery store stocks to keep your fresh fruits and veggies in.

Lotus

"If you are looking for another way to make your grocery shopping habits a little more green, I suggest switching to reusable shopping produce bags. Now I'm not talking about the tote bag you bring with you to carry all of your groceries in, I'm talking about replacing the need for those tiny plastic bags to put your fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables in. The Lotus reusable shopping bags are tiny, first of all, so you're easily able to bring them with you anywhere. (Personally, I put a few in the bottom of my larger tote bag so that they're ready at any time.)

They come in three different sizes, the smallest being perfect for small items like tomatoes or garlic, and the largest can hold down both celery and a bunch of decent-sized leeks. The only weirdness comes when the occasional person behind the counter is confused by your eco-friendly bags, but realistically their ignorance is on them, not you!" —Whitney Jefferson

Get a set of nine (three different sizes) from Amazon for $16.99.

2. A pack of thin, grippy no-show socks that'll end the dreaded sock-slip that makes wearing low-top sneaks and loafers a pain in the butt.

BuzzFeed / Yi Yang

"My relationship with no-show socks is truly a love/hate one. On the one hand, I love wearing them with my low-top sneakers and loafers (my feet sweat too much to go sock-less), and they do look so much better than ankle socks IMO; on the other hand, they're usually too tight, dig into my skin, or slip off after two steps. I haven't managed to find the perfect pair until I tried these Eedor ones. I was skeptical when I ordered them — would they fail me like every other pair of no-shows?! I was pleasantly surprised.

Because they come in three sizes, I wasn't forced to squeeze my large feet into 'one-size-fits-all' socks that are clearly too small. They have a bit of rubber in the back to help them stay on and are very grippy on their own without being uncomfortable. I gave them a test-run in a new pair of loafers, and they stayed on all day and actually prevented blisters from forming on my feet by eliminating friction caused by sweat and rubbing. I will say that they are pretty thin (which I actually prefer because they don't make my shoes feel tighter) and have no cushioning effect whatsoever, but for my purposes, they work super duper well. I shall be stocking up on these in the coming months!" —Yi Yang

Get a pack of three pairs from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in three sizes and four colors, plus packs of six or a variety pack of eight pairs).

3. A DNA test to trace the origins of our feline friends.

BuzzFeed / Emmy Favilla

"First we were fascinated by what human DNA tests uncovered about our ancestries. Then dog DNA tests burst onto the scene. Now, my friends, the product the rest of us have all been waiting for has finally arrived: the cat DNA test!! I'd long been curious to discover what breed or breeds made up my long-haired cat Benny, who has some super-strange habits: playing with his water to the point where he regularly floods the floor; lying in the middle of the room on his back, all splayed out; and making weird chirpy-trill noises instead of meowing, to name a few. Thanks to the Basepaws DNA test I can now confirm that he is likely at least a third Maine coon! Totally makes sense now.

Here's the thing: Cat genetics is still pretty mysterious terrain. Basically, 95% of all cats in the world are mutts, or what are adorably called polycats. And as the test results state: 'Unlike other dog or human ancestry tests, we cannot make the assumption that your cat was descended from a mixture of purebred lines since purebred cats are so new. However, using a large panel of purebred cats that we have sequenced, we can try to find parts of your cat's genome that are similar to a known cat breed.' According to his DNA analysis, Benny is mostly similar to Western breeds, and within that category, the Maine coon specifically.

Using the kit is relatively easy, as long as you've got a moderately cooperative cat. After activating the kit online, you just take the swab enclosed in the box, swoosh it around on the inside of your kitty's mouth (I know — easier said than done for many cats, lol), mix it with the enclosed solution, and send it off. You'll typically be emailed with your results within around eight weeks. If you suspect your kitty might have a chunk of special breed in their lineage, or if you're just looking to do something fun or give a thoughtful gift to a cat lover, this kit comes highly recommended!" —Emmy Favilla

Get it from Basepaws for $99.

4. A pair of Ugg slipper shoes that are almost impossibly cozy, without overheating your feet.

BuzzFeed / Maitland

"First thing that needs to be said is that Uggs are great! They're warm, they're cozy, and you can just slide them on when you're freezing — I won't hear otherwise! They're not exactly high fashion, but they don't *need* to be when it's a straight-up polar vortex outside. So when I saw these Ugg slipper slides with an elastic back, I just had to buy a pair. I don't know what it is about them I find the cutest: the slightly sporty elastic, the Michelin man–esque plush rolls on top, or the chunky bottoms that give you a little extra height. AND they have all the comfort of a slip-on slide, but without the feeling that your foot is going to fall out any second.

They have a hard sole, so you can wear them as indoor slippers, half-indoor-half-outdoor take-out-the-trash-shoes, or real regular shoes (aka what I'm going to use them for). When it's still warm-ish out, I'm going to wear them with my toes poking through, but they're also going to be *so* cute with socks (team socks + sandals 'til I die!!!!!). And they're SO SOFT AND COMFY! I'm prepared to live in these all fall. Paired with leggings and a blazer? It's the perfect 'Ugh, I can barely make today happen' work outfit. I honestly want to get another pair in another of the cute colors...or the leopard print. Oh, and just FYI, I ended up sizing down in these!" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get them from Nordstrom for $99.95 (available in sizes 5–12 and nine colors).

5. A tiger-themed bedding set from Drew Barrymore's Flower Kids collection for anyone who loves color and animals.

BuzzFeed / Bek O'Connell

"Apparently Drew Barrymore has impeccable taste, because I truly love everything in her collections, Flower Home and Flower Kids. I'm at the point where I'm wondering if maybe Barrymore might like to adopt me? And design my bedroom? Anyway, I've been low-key obsessed with tiger decor for the last 5–20 years, so of course I snatched up this new bedding set as soon as I saw it. The very reasonably priced set comes with sheets, a comforter, and two shams. The fabric is soft and lightweight, and the colors are nice and vibrant. It's undeniably a great buy. And the sizes go up to queen, so even I — an adult and not a child — can enjoy it. Now I just need a giant tiger painting hanging above my bed and all my big cat dreams will come true." —Bek O'Connell

Get it from Walmart for $54+ (available in sizes twin–queen).

6. A machine-washable gel-and-microfiber yoga mat towel that'll keep your mat dry during hot yoga and prevent you from slipping while perfecting your standing bow pose.

BuzzFeed / Anna Kopsky

"I've been practicing traditional hot yoga a few times a week for a little over a year now, and because the room is over 100 degrees and we could slip from our own sweat, we're all required to place towels over our mats during class. I've tried quite a few different towels over the last year, and unfortunately some will move out of place, distracting me while I try to balance — and making me nervous that I may fall and hurt myself!

I have tried both the Classic Gummy Yoga Towel *and* the Cush Gummy Yoga Towel (which is a thicker version of the classic), and neither move out of place while I'm practicing. It seriously has made me improve so much more during my practice, because I'm able to focus on my actual poses instead of getting slightly anxious that my yoga towel won't stay in place during what is supposed to be one of the most relaxing parts of my day. Plus, the Cush Gummy towel is thick enough where if I wanted to travel with it, I wouldn't have to lug my actual mat with me on my trip. I have a lot of yoga products I bring with me to class, but this is the most vital one!" —Anna Kopsky

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three colors, plus the cushy version).

7. An acupressure mat with almost 9,000 rounded "nails" that you might find helpful if you deal with chronic pain or stress.

"I've lived with chronic pain for several years now and also because I am a person on earth, I deal with stress. I got this acupressure mat from Bed of Nails a couple of years ago and try to lie on it at least two to three times a week. It just feels fucking great, and instantly relieves some of the pressure and stress I feel. At first I thought it was super weird because it's sort of like the idea of laying on needles, but it actually feels amazing and I truly couldn't recommend it enough if you, like me, are having chronic pain or dealing with a lot of extra stress and anxiety. I own the set with the pillow attachment, but I think the mat itself is enough and the added pillow set isn't necessarily something you need to splurge on." —Lara Parker

Get it from Amazon for $79.99 (available in two colors) or from Bed of Nails for $79.95.

8. A pair of comfortable striped jeans for days you feel like mixing up your denim game.

BuzzFeed / Bek O'Connell

"You know what everyone needs? Some cool jeans. Sometimes you need to take a break from the monotony of switching between blue denim and black. Sometimes you need a bold color, a new texture, or an interesting pattern. Like, for example, some trendy striped jeans from American Eagle. These bad boys are made with a nice thick material, are super comfy, and look good with pretty much any outfit. They're high-waisted and straight-legged (mom jean style) so you have plenty of room to move around. That means easily kicking your legs into the air so everyone can see your cool new duds. These feel like $100 jeans that will last a long time but luckily, you can grab them for less than a fourth of that cost." —Bek O'Connell

Get them from American Eagle for $29.99 (originally $49.95; available in sizes 00–20, in short, regular, and long fits).

9. Heel stoppers to make those stilts a lil' easier to walk on, avoid sinking in the grass, and thus looking better for so much longer.

BuzzFeed / Elizabeth Lilly

"I normally live in flats or block heels but when my friend MaryAnn asked me to be a bridesmaid and I settled on this Jenny Yoo dress, I assumed the black-tie optional dress code would require something likely higher than my 2–3 inch block heels. Then I took a deep dive into the venue and learned we'd be walking on grass. So what's a klutz with a high center of gravity to do while trying not to 1) fall down or 2) keel over while quietly stifling tears during her friends' vows? Buy some Heel Stoppers, that's what!

I've put those Heel Stoppers in approximately one billion stories and, using the sizing guide on the Amazon listing, finally bought some to fit the Blue by Betsy Johnson stilettos I wore on the big day. I was able to easily slip them onto the glitter-encrusted heels upon arrival. And let me tell you fine folks, these lil' pieces of plastic are SO STURDY. The day of the ceremony they made the heels much easier to walk in and prevented me from aerating the lawn. I didn't trip as the first bridesmaid to parade across a country-club lawn in front of approximately 150 guests, and the last bridesmaid to walk out after the nuptials. My feet still hurt to high heavens because those gorgeous shoes don't have a lot of support for a seldom stiletto-wearer like me. But the guests I didn't complain to were none the wiser as I easily shifted my feet during the ceremony, tottered around the cocktail hours, made a reception entrance, danced through the hora and a few other intro songs, and then tore them off my feet come entree time. When I got home I was able to pull 'em off my heels (with a bit of a tug, but still!). Out of all the dough I spent on my bridesmaid ensemble, these were the biggest bang for my buck — OK, maybe besides the dress!" —Elizabeth Lilly

Get them from Amazon for $12.99 (available in four sizes).

10. Kim K's Skims bodysuit, if you choose to wear shapewear or need something to fit better for a special occasion.

BuzzFeed / Heather Braga

"Hear me out on this one — this bodysuit is freakin' fantastic. Regardless of how you may personally feel about Kim Kardashian, I think we can all admit if there's anyone who knows how to design successful shapewear, it would be her. I recently got a dress (the same day I received the Skims bodysuit) and took it home to try on only to discover it seemed about a half-size too small. It had buttons that went all the way down, but thanks to my curves (and boobs) I felt like a stuffed sausage bursting at the seams while wearing it. I figured I'd hand it off to my sister (like everything else that doesn't fit) but then realized 'Oh! I have the bodysuit!' I got myself into it (note: it's VERY tight) and after breaking a mild sweat and making some adjustments, I felt like my whole body looked smoothed out. I tried on the dress again and, OMG, it looked COMPLETELY different on me with the addition of the bodysuit. A complete game changer. I wouldn't suggest wearing this for every occasion (it's definitely going to be hard to pee while wearing it) but when you have a specific outfit that is a touch too clingy, this bodysuit will help it fit better!" —Heather Braga

Get it from Skims for $68 (available in sizes XXS/XS–4X/5X and nine colors).

11. A lamp that doubles as a Wi-Fi speaker (thanks to a new collaboration between IKEA and Sonos) that not only lights up a room and fills it with your favorite tunes but also saves on space.

BuzzFeed / John Mihaly

“With no overhead light in my bedroom, I’ve had to rely on a dinky table lamp and my phone to light my way. Reading in bed was near impossible while banging my shins into furniture was a breeze. There was a perfect space on my dresser for a second lamp but that was occupied by my Sonos One speaker. If only there was a way to solve this issue, to have two things — each with their own unique function — occupy a single space.

Well, the Norse gods must have heard my pleas (By Odin’s eye, thank thou!) because IKEA has a brand new collab with Sonos called the Symfonisk. Lamp + speaker = total space saver.

It was easy enough to connect the Symfonisk to my existing network and I was streaming music from Spotify in a matter of single-digit minutes. One small caveat is that the lamp requires proprietary IKEA light bulbs, but once installed the entire room lit up with a warm but bright glow. Looks great, sounds even better, and now I have no excuse for falling asleep on the couch.” —John Mihaly

Get it from Ikea for $179.

Check out September's and August's editions for more reviews!

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

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