This time of year, the internet is filled with a plethora of lists. They start with gift guides. But as we get closer to the new year, they become compilations of the best movies, best songs, and the most outrageous trends and news stories of 2023.

To be honest and transparent, these lists are not for you. They are carefully researched to ensure trending keywords can be “organically” slipped into the article’s copy. These keywords offer the best chance of placing the article in a prominent position when searching the internet for information. If the site shows up at the top of the list on that first page of Google, chances are substantially higher that people will click to visit. Since the internet is a click-based economy, the more unique visitors (strangers) you can lure in per month, the more “valuable” your site becomes.

This is a myth.

Entertaining Options firmly believes that true value is in having loyal readers, not ones who found our landing page by accident. We want to be a destination, a place you can go to find what you are looking for. We want people to visit by choice, not by chance. The best way we can do that is to provide consistent quality content that doesn’t follow trends — because if you follow, it is impossible to lead. And leaders are the ones who make a difference.

We love learning about the world and discovering new things. Whether it’s a product, a fashion accessory, a style upgrade, a family adventure, a movie, or an idea, our goal is to share what we find. If we get clicks in the process, that’s awesome! But it’s not the focus. We want to write about topics that provide fresh and useful information that you won’t find if you depend on search engines for discovering content. We also want to keep you intrigued and never quite sure what to expect, so you keep coming back with an open and curious mind.

Admittedly, some of our stories are about trends — just because something is popular, it doesn’t mean it has no value. However, the bulk of our content is focused on things that are hopefully new to you. The common thread is we want all of our articles to give you options to consider (aka entertain). Hence the title, Entertaining Options.

Now that you know what Entertaining Options means and why we are different, here is a list of products that we think are worthy of consideration for gifts. Every item on this list is something we’ve used at home this year. Some of these products we are certain you’ve already heard of, but others, you probably never even knew they existed. We hope you find something of interest and value in this list.

Full transparency: Currently, we do not use affiliate links. That means we receive no money from any of our recommendations. Maybe someday we’ll get a better business sense, but for right now, we just enjoy learning more about the world and sharing it with you.

Important note: While all information was accurate at the time this article was compiled and published, prices are subject to change. Sales happen. Please confirm what the current prices are before purchasing.

Best gifts to give to others (or keep for yourself) in 2023

SnoreLessNow Anti-Snore Pillow

Getting a restful night’s sleep is crucial to health and happiness. If you have a snorer in the family, it can disrupt sleep for everyone within earshot. My wife snores, and we have tried everything from different sleeping positions to nasal strips. The only thing that worked was me leaving the bedroom to get some shut-eye on the couch, so the jump-scare level snorts were no longer a factor.

I can’t promise the Anti-Snore Pillow will work for you because different people snore for different reasons. But for us, this head-cradling pillow kept my wife’s airway open throughout the night. Admittedly, it took a little trial and error along with a few messages to the manufacturer to figure it out — we removed the moisture-wicking bamboo cover and gave the memory foam time to break in so it was comfortable for my wife’s neck. But now, as long as my wife’s head is where it’s supposed to be, this pillow doesn’t just reduce her snoring, it eliminates it completely.

A quiet night is something neither of us ever thought would be possible. If you have a snorer whose snoring is a result of tissue obstructing the throat, this could be your salvation. The SnoreLess Now Anti-Snore Pillow is available at the company’s website. The pillow normally costs $140.00. But at the time this list was compiled, it was on sale for just $98.00.

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LifeStraw Peak Series Solo

Nearly every essential bodily function requires water. Without being hydrated, you wouldn’t be able to maintain a consistent temperature, digest food, nourish your body, or eliminate toxins. In fact, without water, you would have a hard time moving because water lubricates your joints and keeps muscles functioning. If you had no access to water, the average person would only survive for three days.

LifeStraw understands the importance of having safe drinking water in all situations. It had its impressive beginning in 1999 when Vestergaard, a family-owned global health company, created a plastic pipe that could filter out Guinea worm larva. The device was a godsend for poor communities in remote parts of Africa. Nearly a quarter of a century later, LifeStraw has a half-dozen product lines. Each one is meant to provide safe drinking water for a different situation. 

Last summer, LifeStraw gifted us with a sample of the newest model from its Peak Series. The Peak Series of portable water filters is designed for outdoor use, specifically when hiking, camping, or exploring. The Solo is so tiny, I could hold it in the palm of my hand [See the above photo.] And it features an ingenious design: unscrew the bottom, pop the top cap off, stick the bottom in your water source and draw the water up just like a straw. Alternatively, you can fill up any container that has a standard (28 millimeter) threaded top and screw the Solo on to have a portable source of filtered water.

As water moves up the straw, it passes through a 0.2-micron filter. For reference, human hair is 20 to 50 microns, so that’s impressively small. This means the LifeStraw can remove bacteria, parasites, and microplastics. The company states the Solo can filter up to 500 gallons of water (if you backwash and care for the filter as directed). If you’re curious, 500 gallons is about two-and-a-half years’ worth of water. 

I was amazed by how easily I could draw the water through the straw. And drinking was even easier when attached to a bottle or a pouch that could be inverted or squeezed. One thing to be aware of is not all bottle threads are the same. While the Solo formed a tight seal on an empty two-liter bottle of Mountain Dew, we couldn’t get it to stay on a bargain-brand 16-ounce water bottle.

If you want to experience the thrill of sticking a straw into a freshwater lake or stream and drinking directly from nature, the LifeStraw Peak Series Solo lets you do exactly that. It also provides the peace of mind in knowing you can have safe drinking water in almost any situation or location. And the best part? Every purchase gives a child safe drinking water for an entire year. At just $29.95 (currently on sale for $22.46), that’s an incredible value. You can buy the Solo portable water filter directly from LifeStraw.

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Sharpie Markers and Pens

A company knows it has an exceptional reputation when people ask for the brand, not the product. For instance, the average person doesn’t ask for an adhesive bandage. They want a Band-Aid. Similarly, when you need to make a mark that is crisp, vibrant, and permanent, you specifically ask for a Sharpie.

While parents often choose a Sharpie to label their kids’ clothing and celebrities use the thick marker with a fine point to sign autographs, the brand is so much more. For one thing, black isn’t the only color ink available. Sharpies come in more colors than a Roy G. Biv rainbow. You can get turquoise, pink, tan, brown, and more. And Sharpies are no longer confined to markers. You can get the same high-quality results with a highlighter or a gel pen.

Sharpies make an excellent gift for crafting, art, office work, and more because everyone eventually needs a Sharpie. You can find an extensive offering of marker shapes, tip sizes, and ink colors on the Sharpie website. To get you started, however, here are four diverse options that we highly recommend:

• Sharpie Permanent Markers, Fine Point (12 count): These are the familiar, bold classic permanent markers with a fine point and quick-drying ink. This pack comes in 12 vibrant colors.
• Sharpie S-Note Duo Dual-Ended Creative Markers (16 count): For something just a little different, consider these dual-tip creative markers. One end features a versatile chisel tip while the other offers a fine bullet tip. These markers are suitable for crafting, drawing, note-taking, highlighting, and more. This collection comes in 16 bold colors.
• Sharpie S-Gel, Metal Barrel, Medium Point (4 count): If you love Sharpie’s high-performance black ink, but wish it came in a pen. This stylish option is for you. Bold, no-smear, no-bleed ink fills these stylish gold metal gel pens.
• Sharpie S-Gel, Medium Point (8 count): This set of eight pens includes four black, along with one red, one, green, one blue, and one purple gel pen. The barrel has a contoured rubber grip for comfort, and delivers the same effortless, no-smear, no-bleed writing experience you’ve come to expect from Sharpie.

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Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds

Music is essential at Entertaining Options. It sets the mood and helps us get through those extra-long work days. But listening is more than motivation and empowerment. It’s part of our work. When we review music, we need to hear that separation to pinpoint what each instrument is contributing to a track. When reviewing films and previewing television episodes, it is crucial that we understand every snippet of dialog. Consequently, we have a pile of listening devices ranging from dollar-store wired earbuds to Apple products.

Several months ago, a company that was new to us sent over a couple of samples for us to try. To be perfectly honest, I was hesitant to use them because I can be extremely picky when it comes to the overall tonal color of an audio device. Especially one that claims to analyze my ears to give me the perfect sound automatically. I was skeptical because everyone hears differently. And everyone has a different idea of what sounds good.

Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds are different in an important way. When you take the time to dig in and discover what they have to offer, you will find a hearing test. As a lifelong musician, this was amazing to me because I have tinnitus. The intensity isn’t steady. Some days it can be hard to hear the TV, but thankfully, most of the time it is a faint high-pitched tone that I don’t notice unless I think about it.

The Soundpeats hearing test let me take an active part in programming the earbuds. I could tell the app which frequencies were clear and at what volume level so it could set up an individual EQ profile. When the test was done, I activated the custom settings to hear sounds with a balance I probably haven’t experienced since I was a teen. Still, if I didn’t like the settings, I could go in and tweak them however I wanted to get the sound I thought was ideal. That made all the difference to me.

Beyond that, I could take calls with a tap, change the volume, skip forward, engage Game Mode, or activate the noise canceling function to hear even better. And I wore them every day at the gym for an entire month before they had to be recharged for the first time. However, if you sweat a lot, I would not recommend these for the gym. My sweat soiled the contacts during the second month and the right earbud stopped charging. However, I solved the problem by giving them a quick cleaning as directed.

If you want to hear in the way that you like, these earbuds are highly recommended. The degree of customization you can achieve with the Soundpeats Air4 Wireless Earbuds is astounding. They are versatile, high-quality tech that performs like a premium product, but is available at a price that is affordable on any budget. These earbuds list for $89.99, but at the time of this writing, they are just $52.79 on Amazon.

For the athletic individual, we recommend the Soundpeats RunFree model. This lightweight listening device provides full musical immersion while letting you stay safe and aware of your environment. This headset has been honored with a coveted Red Dot Design Award. It features air conduction tech and a liquid silicone body that is water resistant so the headphones are protected from both sweat and rain. At the time of this writing, the Soundpeats RunFree open-ear headphones are on sale for just $39.99 on Amazon (regularly $49.99).

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Wallaroo Hat Company Palm Beach Fedora

There’s something about a hat. It can change your entire personality. The right style can give you confidence, make you feel affluent, and turn heads. This Wallaby Palm Beach Fedora does all that and more. According to the Australian Radiation Protection Agency, the flexi-weave fabric has an Ultraviolet Protection Factor of 50+ so it blocks 97.5% of ultraviolet rays. Not only does it look good on you, it is good for you.

The first thing I noticed when putting this hat on was how comfortable it was. It’s extremely lightweight and has an adjustable elastic band on the inside that I used to achieve a secure fit. The 2.75-inch brim provided just enough of an overhang to protect my eyes from the sun while the soft taco fold and bold black band with the elegant Wallaroo monogrammed button gave the hat a stately air. I felt ready to travel the world in style!

If you know someone who likes to vacation, or they just enjoy the outdoors, whether it’s playing golf, hiking or lounging around the country club sipping a Transfusion, the Palm Beach Fedora is a wonderful gift. This hat comes in ivory, beige, and olive, and it regularly costs $55 on the Wallaroo Hat Company website. However, at the time of this writing, it is on sale for $41.25.

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Adirondack Fragrance Farm Candles, Perfume, and more

I’ve always found candles to be, for the most part, a disappointment. They have exotic names that lead you to believe burning one will transport you to an island paradise, a rustic retreat, a field of flowers, or a favorite holiday. Unfortunately, the best thing about many brands are those evocative names. Companies seem to spend much more time thinking about the label that goes onto the candle than what goes into it.

This is not the case with Adirondack Fragrance Farm products. Sandy Maine is the founder of this glorious company, and she has been crafting place-based fragrances for over 40 years. She uses farm-fresh ingredients from the Adirondack region of New York that she has planted, watered, weeded, grown, harvested, and crafted. The result is a cornucopia of sensuous splendor that introduces people to the flora and fauna of the Adirondacks. Sandy helps her customers reconnect with nature in an empowering and meaningful way, no matter where they live.

When I opened the box of samples that the company sent, the quality was immediately obvious. It wasn’t just a smell; the fragrance experience was immersive. The air felt a little thicker, like I could taste the balsam on the tip of my tongue. Before even lighting the first candle, I was transported outdoors to a weekend camping trip. I almost expected there to be a soft bed of pine needles beneath my feet.

I loved that Sandy’s fragrances had staying power. I fully expected the intoxicating scents to dissipate and diminish after unboxing, but weeks later, the candles and soap (that we enjoy so much we don’t want to use) are still sitting on a shelf, making the office smell amazing. Stepping through the door to stand in front of the computer to begin writing is like taking a vacation in my own home.

We also received hand cream and perfume. It is important to remember that with Adirondack Fragrance Farm products, a little goes a long way. A dollop of hand cream kept my hands smelling like I’d been working on a Christmas tree farm all day. And just a spritz or two of perfume was all we needed to make an entire room smell fresh for hours.

Adirondack Fragrance Farm crafts exceptional products. Each is handmade to order. If you have room in your budget to get the best, these candles, soaps, perfumes, and hand creams make wonderful gifts. Since we like it when our home and office have a warm, outdoorsy atmosphere, our favorites were the Balsam & Cedar Soy Candle (4.5 ounces, regularly $19), the Balsam Soap Bar (4 ounces, regularly $9.50), the Balsam & Cedar Vintage Hand Cream (2.3 ounces, regularly $19), and the Balsam & Cedar Artisan Perfume Spray (1 ounce, regularly $49). My wife also gave an enthusiastic thumbs up to the Pumpkin Spice Soy Candle (4.5 ounces, regularly $19).

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SPIbelt

I am not the biggest fan of running. There’s a brief period about a mile or so in, when I feel invincible, but that feeling quickly fades. After that, every single step is accompanied by my mind asking, “Are we there yet? Can we stop now?”

Walking, however, is completely different. When the gyms shut down during the pandemic, I was logging over 100 miles each month. At first, all I took with me were my keys. But then I started tracking my miles, so I brought my phone. When I added errands to the mix, a wallet became a necessity. The only problem was athletic clothing never seems to have utilitarian pockets. Anything and everything I brought with me, I carried in my hands.

The SPIbelt [pronounced spy-belt] is an excellent solution for a portable pocket. SPI stands for “small personal items.” The model we received was a thin, elastic belt with two spots for quick length adjustments and a sturdy plastic buckle. It accommodates waists ranging from 25 through 47 inches, fits snug, and keeps the zippered items from jostling about. 

I was impressed that, for such a sleek and stylish design, the SPIbelt had a deceptively large pocket. With nothing in it, the storage space is 9 inches long, but only about an inch wide. However, it expands to 4 inches wide and 2 inches deep when filled. I could fit my wallet, phone, keys, earbuds, and a chapstick into the pouch. There was probably enough room to slip an energy bar in as well, but I didn’t want to overstuff my new favorite exercise accessory.

The SPIbelt is a handy portable pocket that you can wear when walking, running, hiking, or when you just feel like doing errands in your yoga pants. The one we have is all black, but it comes in over two dozen patterns and colors. It costs $26.99 and is available on the SPIbelt website.

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Body Glide Body: The Original Anti Chafe Stick

Anything that rubs against your skin creates friction. This can be a shirt, pants, undergarments, swimwear, footwear, or even another body part. If the rubbing persists, the friction will damage the area. This damage can range from mild irritation to broken skin that lets microorganisms in, causes an infection, and requires medical treatment. To prevent friction, you need to coat your skin with a protective barrier. Body Glide’s anti chafe balm does exactly that.

While chafing is worse for me during the summer months, and nearly unbearable when I go to the beach (and walk around in a wet bathing suit all day), it can happen when I exercise, too. When I applied Body Glide’s anti chafe balm, at first, it felt a little strange. The sensation was like coating my skin with a light wax. However, once applied, I didn’t notice the product at all. When I rubbed over the spot, it felt like I was gliding my finger along a piece of silk. 

According to the company, the product is made with allergen free, plant-derived ingredients and has no petroleum, parabens, or phthalates. It is child safe, clothing safe, water resistant, sweat resistant, and was never tested on animals. Body Glide is not only for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, but it makes a great gift for anyone who has an issue with chafing on nearly any part of their body. I tested the convenient 0.8-ounce travel size container, which was small enough to fit in my pocket. The travel size costs $8.99 and is available on the Body Glide website. There are larger and smaller options, if you prefer. Plus, the company makes special formulas to ensure you get the precise protection and type of application you desire or require for any chafing situation.

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Cover photo: courtesy of Soundpeats