Outsmarted — an interactive TV-quiz board game
You can hook up to six devices, including your phone, tablet/iPad, and TV!
Promising review: "Our family has had such a great time playing Outsmarted! It’s become one of our go-to games for family nights, and it’s been a fun way to bond with our teenagers. We really like that we can play on our devices and then mirror the game to the TV so everyone can easily follow along. The questions are awesome — up-to-date and even tied to current events (we saw questions from just last week!). There’s also a wide variety of topics, so it feels fun and challenging without needing to buy extra packs. One of our favorite features is the ability to build up assists. It adds a whole new layer of strategy and competition, which makes the game even more exciting. Overall, Outsmarted has been a huge hit in our house — we can’t recommend it enough!" — Robert T Toedman
A Santa treat tower
I also got this for my holiday party and it looked great! Candy tasted delish and I loved the variety of treats inside. This will surely be the perfect centerpiece on your Christmas tablescape. It's three tiers of festive gummies and chocolate treats that both kids and adults will enjoy. And when the treats are gone, you can add it to your Christmas decor collection!
A bottle of spiced apple cider concentrate
Fill your home with the scent of inviting warm spices in minutes. Just mix a splash of this concentrate with hot water for an instantly warming drink, or use it to add yummy apple flavor to treats you're baking, glazes, and soups that your friends will rave about.
Mountain Cider Co. is a small business in Vermont that's been making a 100% pure apple cider concentrate for over 30 years.
Promising review: "This cider concentrate is delicious and easy to mix. I follow the instructions of one ounce of concentrate to seven ounces of water. I use my measuring cup to measure and cold bottled water from my fridge. I prefer it cold, but I’m certain it would be delicious hot. I ordered the smaller bottle, but am thinking of ordering the larger bottle and an ounce pump to make larger quantities. The spices are perfectly blended and do not overwhelm the apple flavor. I can barely tell this is spiced apple cider. I wish I could give it more than five stars. You can also use this for baking recipes." — Olivia Ellsworth
The Ninja Scoop & Swirl
Create the ultimate dessert bar in your kitchen for all your guests. Use it to make your own custom ice creams, sorbets, milkshakes, and frozen yogurts. Many reviewers love it because it's also an excellent way to make ice cream that fits specific dietary needs like keto, low-sugar, dairy-free, and vegan.
Promising review: "The Ninja Swirl is a great product. From the thoughtful packaging to the appealing design, it feels well-made all around. We have made protein ice cream (Creamifit), traditional ice cream, and even Dole Whip with excellent results. The machine is easy to use and simple to clean afterward. It is not the quietest, but the noise level is comparable to that of a blender, and occasionally a little louder. Overall, this is an excellent product." — Stormy
A pack of reflection cards
Get the conversation among your visiting family flowing, instead of asking how work is going for the umpteenth time. It's a pack of over 100 beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully curated cards that are meant to encourage gratitude, curiosity, and connection. Just think of them as your emotional Wi-Fi — they'll help you to connect with anyone, anywhere! It features questions like "If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about your life, the world, or anything else, what would you want to know?"
Promising review: "We are big fans of game night with our friends, often with the usual board games. We tried these cards out, and it was a really great way to get to know our friends better. It admittedly can feel odd in the first question or two, but once you laugh it off and get it rolling, it can spark some unexpected, funny, deep, and often uniting conversations. My wife is a yoga and meditation teacher and has used the deck to open discussion around some of the themes of the cards (compassion, resilience, gratitude, reflection, kinship, adventure, etc) and said that the questions sparked some interesting and meaningful conversations among her students. The size and feel of the cards are that of a high-quality deck of playing cards. Definitely recommend these." — Adam Pirani
A Dash shaved ice and slushy maker
Promising review: "Nice little shaved ice machine. I have it sitting out on my counter and it takes up very little space. It has nice suction on the bottom so it doesn’t move while it is working. Doesn’t make too much noise. I like the three options for the size of the shaved ice, [because] most other ones don’t give you the option. It is easy to clean but I have it jam once or twice (it is easy to take apart so it only takes a minute or two to fix the jam). My only issue with it is unless you get all the ice out as it melts it will leak even with the pitcher under it (I never want to take it apart right after using it as I am typically eating the shaved iced so there is also a little bit of ice in it that melts but I just put a towel down). It is worth the money as my daughter loves shaved iced." — Kim
A mini projector that delivers big cinematic results.
It comes with a 200-inch projection screen and has built-in stereo speakers that reviewers say is pretty decent for the price. It also connects to smartphones, laptops and tablets via HDMI or USB ports. So gather everyone staying at your place for a backyard holiday movie night under string lights (hot cocoa in hand, of course).
Promising review: "To be so small, this projector is really nice. The picture quality is very clear, to my surprise. Setup was quick and easy — I had it connected and running within minutes. I also like how convenient it is to move from room to room. The built-in speaker isn't so bad, but I love that I can connect it to my own sound system when I want a fuller experience, especially when it comes to gaming. For the price and convenience, I love it. I would definitely recommend!" — Te'Ana B.
And a silicone popcorn maker
Here's what BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Abby Kass says about it: "I've been using a similar one for years, and I still swear by it. It's so much cheaper than buying microwave popcorn all the time, not to mention better for you. It's super easy to use and makes delicious popcorn in minutes. Plus, it's collapsible, so it won't take up a lot of room in your cabinet. You can use it as its own bowl, but it's usually pretty hot after coming out of the microwave, so I usually just transfer to another bowl so I don't have to wait for it to cool."
Promising review: "Absolutely amazing! I am throwing out my old popcorn maker because there is no need for it anymore. I cannot believe how easy it was to make perfect popcorn and use the same bowl to eat it out of. I've already told all of my friends to buy this!" — Cindy Suy
A five-pound bucket of Crayola Air Dry Clay
Keep your nieces and nephews entertained enough to not go snooping around your house and getting into mischief. It's easy to mold, softens with water, dries without needing an oven, and paints like a dream. It's super therapeutic and a great opportunity for kids to have screen-free fun that taps into their creativity.
Psst — a lot of reviewers use silicone or plastic molds to get specific shapes!
Promising review: "It’s honestly just a really nice material to work with! If you want to create things with clay, this is definitely a good choice! It’s definitely not for professional use, but I feel like that’s a given? I mean, it is Crayola. But all in all, great for those who want to use it for fun!" — Amazon Customer
A karaoke mic
Your sister can fully unleash her inner Mariah Carey when "All I Want For Christmas" comes on. It’s got built-in Bluetooth, a surprisingly powerful speaker, and even an echo mode so you can even sound like Mariah... (or at least give a hell of a Mariah-like performance). Reviewers note being very surprised and delighted with the sound quality of this bad boy.
Promising review: "You don't understand — TikTok made me obsess over this microphone. As a 30+ year-old woman, I resisted purchasing it. I finally broke down and bought it because it was haunting me in my sleep. I'm so glad I did. When I am in a bad mood, I start karaoke in my house and am instantly better. It has 'ruined' my teenage son's life because my performances can be heard through his Xbox microphone. This is a must-have product." — Zane A. Undercoffer
A pack of flame colorant
The colors last for up to an hour per packet and you can keep adding packets to keep the vibes going strong! BUT you should not use if you are planning on roasting marshmallows or cooking any type of food.
Magical Flames is a small biz that creates a variety of flame colorants.
Promising review: "These flame packets are such a fun addition to any fire. The colors are vibrant and shift between blues greens and purples which look amazing against the natural orange glow. They last a decent amount of time and make sitting around the fire feel extra special. I’ve used them for both backyard fires and camping trips and they never fail to impress. They’re also really easy to use — just toss a packet in and enjoy the show. Great for kids and adults and a simple way to make a fire night memorable." — Ashley Marie
Available in four variations and in packs of five, 10, 12, 25, and 50.
A reviewer-beloved electric fondue set
To keep you and your family full of warm cheese for the holidays. It melts chocolate or cheese to gooey perfection (thanks to its adjustable heat settings), comes with its own serving tray and skewers, and basically guarantees that everyone is coming to your house for Christmas dinner this year.
Kusini is a small business that specializes in kitchen products.
Promising review: "I absolutely love fondue, and this made at-home fondue easy and mess-free! Warms up quickly and holds the perfect amount of fondue plus dippers." — Ruby Pagel
And The Melting Pot Garlic and Wine Seasoning
This will have everyone scraping the bottom of the fondue pot because it would be sacrilegious to leave behind even one drop of something this delicious. Who knew garlic, wine, and herbs could mingle so perfectly with melted cheese and make such an irresistibly decadent treat? Reviewers wax poetic about its rich, aromatic flavor and add it to all kinds of cheese and pasta dishes.
Promising review: "A friend of mine recommended that I try this, and I'm SO glad I listened to her. This has such a great flavor. The first dish I made with it was chicken alfredo, and the elevation that the wine flavoring provided to an already fantastic dish knocked it out of the park. Now I'm reaching for it more often than anything else in my spice cabinet. Absolutely on point and will be keeping it on hand always!" — Tiffany Colson
Psst — if you want to go the whole nine yards, you can get Melting Pot Fondue on their Amazon page!
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions
Essentially the greatest bartending bible out there, so you can impress your in-laws when they stop by for your holiday gathering. You'll blow their socks off once you've learned how to craft bar-worthy drinks at home from the six core cocktails — old-fashioned, martini, daiquiri, sidecar, whisky highball, and flip. Once you crack their code, you’ll be shaking, stirring, and swapping ingredients like a pro, and will confidently know what to tweak to create your own signature sip.
Check out a TikTok of the cocktail book in action.
Promising review: "This book has easily become one of my favorites. Great base knowledge, and I would recommend it to anyone seeking to further educate themselves on spirits and cocktails. Even the first few pages are full of useful information. Purchase this for yourself or even as a gift. I cannot say enough good things about this book." — Adriana
And a 10-piece bartender kit
The set includes a spoon, jigger, corkscrew, ice tongs, muddles, two liquor pourers, strainer, shaker, and display stand.
Promising review: "This bar kit is perfect for the budding mixologist in your life! My husband loves the pour spouts and says they make him feel like a real bartender, while I love muddling and building my drinks in a glass with all the tips and tricks in the included booklet! This set gleams and has attracted a few compliments already, and it's so fun showing off with friends to make drinks. Highly recommend!!" — Jessica Armes
A marble board wire cheese cutter
Have your family "oooing" and "ahhing" when they get to cut their own cheese at your Christmas Eve gathering. It not only looks gorgeous on any table, but it also makes slicing cheese effortless — gliding through soft or hard cheeses like buttah. It's perfect for charcuterie boards, sandwiches, or just showing off your love of cheese in style.
It also included two wires in case you need a backup. Check out a TikTok of the cheese slicer in action.
Promising review: "My mother-in-law had purchased one last year, and I tried hers at Christmas and fell in love with how easy it was to use. We have a lot of get-togethers with friends, and cheese is a staple appetizer in our house. So, I purchased my own and have been using it weekly since. It cuts easily, and it's mostly easy to clean. Sometimes cheese gets stuck in the crack, but some scrubbing with a small brush usually does the trick." — Jessica
A pack of The Office-themed Uno cards
Promising review: "This game is so fun! Traditional Uno, but with a few twists… You don’t want to be the last one to drop the chili beans, like Kevin did! The teens thought this version of Uno was hilarious, and it’s a favorite on family game nights. The cards are well-designed and durable, just like the original Uno cards. The deck of cards is the same size as the original, and the gameplay is typically fast. If you are a fan of card games and The Office, then this is a must-have version of Uno!" — Michelle T
Crayola Globbles
The squishy (and sticky) version of a stress ball and a fidget toy that will turn your home into an unofficial arcade for the little ones visiting (and maybe even the adults). It is wildly satisfying to stick, squish, and throw these bad boys at walls (especially when racing your siblings to see whose will roll down the fastest) — but don't worry. They will not ruin your paint job.
Psst — they're also washable (just use soap and water) and regain their stickiness very easily. So, you'll never have to worry about them getting gross and unusable.
Promising review: " My 15-year-old asked for these after seeing them on TikTok. I got them as a stocking stuffer, thinking they’d be tossed aside. Unbelievably, he and his 17-year-old brother have spent time lying on the floor, tossing them up to the ceiling, and waiting for them to fall so they can catch them. I never expected them to get this much use. Bonus is they’re off their phones and in the family room with us." — Amazon Customer
A cheerful plastic fruit bowl
That basically says, “Please, help yourself” when guests come over. The durable plastic keeps things safe, especially for clumsy hands or curious kids, while the playful color instantly livens up your counter. And because it doubles as a colander, you can rinse your berries or grapes right inside so your washed fruit is always ready for guests to snack on.
Promising review: "I LOVE the look of this fruit bowl. I also love that its pedestal minimizes the space it takes up on the counter. I wasn't sure about whether I would like that it is plastic but now consider it a big plus. It keeps the bowl lightweight (but it is still sturdy) and makes it easy to clean. I highly recommend this fruit bowl. I couldn't be more pleased with mine." — Opinion o'Jen
A fire pit so everyone can gather around
Promising review: "We got this square steel fire pit table for our wedding, and it's been a fantastic addition to our backyard. My wife and I absolutely love it. The assembly was straightforward and hassle-free, which is always a bonus. We were pleasantly surprised by its sturdiness and how well it has held up, especially through the challenging Virginia winter. The mesh screen is a thoughtful feature, providing safety without sacrificing the cozy, crackling fire ambiance. It's become our go-to spot for unwinding and creating warm memories. Whether it's a chilly evening or just a desire for some outdoor relaxation, this fire pit has elevated our experience. It's a perfect blend of functionality and charm, making it an excellent choice for any couple looking to enhance their outdoor space." — Kiefer Fairbanks
Or an indoor s'mores maker
Promising review: " We have been really enjoying this little s'mores maker — it's not big, doesn't take up a lot of space, and does exactly what it's meant to do. We can't build fires or anything like that around where I live so this was our next best option. It's worked out great for us. The only thing is it only has two of the little roaster sticks, so if you have several people roasting you would need something else to use to stick your marshmallow on." — Debb
Available in black or brown and in three styles; and get some additional roasting sticks here.
An indoor mini golf green
To turn your living room into a hole-in-fun! This easily-rolled out putting green will give the golfers in your life the ultimate indoor escape — especially on those crappy weather days when they'll be idealizing about warmer temps and getting back out on the course. It's got multiple cup targets and a slight incline to make it just challenging enough to feel like a real green. And check out these glow-in-the-dark golf balls to add some extra pizzazz to your play!
Promising review: "The surface is large, but it can be rolled up and stored away in two minutes! The holes are slightly elevated (to create the holes) but negligible, unlike the one I had a long time ago that returned the ball. I like the shape of the mat (looks way more natural than a rectangular long strip), and the surface is soft and comfortable, yet it feels durable. I have no doubt I can make things more challenging by elevating certain areas underneath if I so desired. The 'sand trap' is also an excellent inclusion as it stops the golf balls from escaping the mat and keeping me from chasing down golf balls. Hopefully it can interest my kids to get off the electronics for a few minutes now and then, and if so, it will deserve an extra star. — Oniomaniac
Otrio — a leveled-up version of tic-tac-toe
Instead of just trying to get three in a row, the goal is to get three of your color rings in a row based on the size. You win when you get either three in one space, three of the same size in a row, or three of increasing or decreasing sizes in a row.
Promising review: "This game is an absolute blast. The games go pretty quickly, so it's a great way to spend a little bit of downtime but fun enough to play for long periods of time. I started with two people and have worked up to three, which totally changes the game. I haven't ventured to four yet. It's such a blast I just bought another for a Christmas gift. I highly recommend it." — ...
A wine aerator
Turn your $10 bottle for your Secret Santa exchange party into a yummier sip. It helps to speed up the breathing process of red wine by mixing in just the right amount of air to give it a smoother and fuller flavor. It’s much easier to use than a decanter, easy to clean, and noticeably improves your sips as one reviewer called it "the best of capitalism."
Plus, it's dishwasher-safe on the top rack.
Promising review: "This aerator works well, does not take up too much space, is not fragile, and is easy to clean. The screen filters out sediment or that occasional piece of cork. It's also very good for an inexpensive weeknight bottle of red. We think it makes a $10 bottle of wine taste like a $15 bottle and so on..." — SuSu2
A giant stacking game
This'll get everyone from little cousins to your competitive friends laughing and strategizing around the table. They're crafted from high-quality pine, which means they're durable and ready for endless crashes.
Promising reviews: "I'm very happy with this purchase. It is a great quality wood with beautiful color and weight. I like that it is unfinished since the texture also feels great to touch. The 1.5' is the perfect size for tabletop games. I don't think we can ever go back to the smaller-sized ones. It was also a pleasant surprise to have the whiteboard and marker to make game play more interesting." — Denise
"Fun. Great for family get togethers." — Aurora Boyd
A pack of plastic balls to create a ball pit
Unsure how many to buy? Use this handy calculator. And don't forget the inflatable pool to put the balls in!
Promising review: "I purchased it for my children’s ball pit. They love them. I like the vibrant colors, and it's a great size for toddlers (they can’t fit the balls in their mouths). They're super easy to clean and very durable. Two years later, and they are still intact!! Highly recommend. Good amount and priced well!!" — Yokasta Disla
Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman
Here's how to play: You deal all the cards out to your two to four players, and everyone keeps their mini-deck face down. Everyone takes a turn putting a card down in the middle of the table, saying one of the words "santa," "cookie," "elf," "candy," and "snowman," in that order. If the picture on your card matches the word that's said, everyone slaps their hand on the card in a pile as quickly as possible. The last person on the pile has to take the stack and add them to their cards, and whoever runs out of cards first wins!
Promising review: "Santa Cookie Elf Candy Snowman card game. It's simplicity and cute pictures make this card game so much fun for the whole family. Easy to learn fast play all ages can enjoy the fun. The cards are Christmas themed but make for a surprise Christmas in July party fun. We play it all year long along with Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza! We've played it kids of all ages, it's great for improving memory skills and active enough to keep everyone interested and paying attention to the game. For an adult time we have played it as a drinking game, a truth or dare or as direction indicate. It's always hilarious! There are several action cards that require you to remember and be the first to do the required hand signals. You'll laugh it your sides ache. Beware if you play this game lots of laughing will happen!!!"
A shaker of edible cocktail glitter
Take your holiday cocktails from ordinary to extraordinary! Just sprinkle it into your drink — even water — and watch it shimmer like you’re sipping liquid stardust. It's safe to consume, extremely effortless to add, and will definitely add the perfect amount of sparkle to your party.
Bakell is a small business established in 2016 that specializes in edible glitters for food and drink.
Promising review: "Don’t think any further and just buy it. This was so cool and everyone loved it! I got the clear one because it will go with any drink. I will be the one to put this in all my friends' drinks. Also had no taste, so it was just the look. Sooooooo cool!" — gigi
A ransom note game
To play, you simply use the word magnets to respond to wild prompts like "tell someone you've clogged their toilet at a party." Everyone uses their magnets to create responses and a designated judge will decide the winner of that round. There are tons of funny combinations to create so it'll always feel fresh. It's not kid-friendly but you can make it kid-friendly by taking out some words and prompts.
Promising review: " Had my whole holiday party howling. A true joy for all the word geeks out there, and a bunch of fun for everyone else. Everyone I’ve introduced it to has bought a copy for themselves afterwards. The best of its kind in years. I’d give it 100 stars if I could." — secret doughnut