It seems like everyone is cutting back now, even those who have made it past the first (or third) round of layoffs. For us, one of the first things we cut back on was dining out, but we found we were missing more than a delicious meal by foregoing this "luxury." Don't forego time spent with friends relaxing -- pick up the Brinkmann Gourmet Charcoal Smoker/Grill and turn your backyard in this spring's... more

This ranks as one of the top gifts we got this year, and it has single-handedly re-introduced breakfast to our weekends. The Nordic Ware Belgian Waffle Maker cranks out delicious waffles that put those frozen things to shame. It makes four, which is enough for two to four, depending on how hungry you are. Sprinkled with a bit of real maple syrup and served with fresh blueberries and it's a meal that makes up... more

The only thing worse than a dead battery is not having jumper cables when someone volunteers to give you a charge. Throw the Lifeline Emergency Road Assistance Kit in the trunk, and you'll have the basics on hand if you leave the overhead light on overnight (again). In addition to jumper cables, the kit comes with a flashlight, screwdriver, and fuses. And because it's sure to be raining when your car stalls, it also... more

We know people who can tap on a wall and hear some subtle difference when there's a stud behind the plaster. They hang pictures with no danger of crumbling plaster that won't hold a nail. This is not one of our skills, and a stud finder is a must-have tool for hanging pictures, shelves, or whatever we want to adorn our walls with. The Black & Decker Stud Finder is a simple tool that... more

Inexplicably, our neighbor's dog Pele chooses the toilet bowl over his water bowl unless he actually sees her fill the bowl up. Putting aside the question of how the toilet bowl water could taste better, she wanted to put an end to the inappropriate lapping. The Platinum Drinkwell Pet Fountain proved to be the answer. It filters the water and gently spills it down into the bowl, and we were surprised at how... more