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By JESSICA DAMIANO Finding the perfect gift can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. Bear with me: The new FinaMill Ultimate Spice Grinder set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of Pull Start Fire on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The No Mess Utensil Set from Souper Cubes , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. The FeatherSnap Wi-Fi smart bird feeder could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Link 3 smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. The appropriately named easyplant is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Related Articles Things To Do | US airports with worst weather delays during holiday season Things To Do | The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Things To Do | Holiday gift ideas for the movie lover, from bios and books to a status tote Things To Do | Beer pairings for your holiday feasts Things To Do | Make these Tahini-Roasted Sweet Potatoes for Thanksgiving If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The Nama M1 appliance both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the QelviQ personal sommelier uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: Uncommon Good’s 2-piece LED Grilling Tool Set puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland showed their support for Michelle Williams on her big return to Broadway. Destiny’s Child reunited backstage Nov. 21 on the opening night of “Death Becomes Her” on Broadway, starring Williams as Viola Van Horn. Beyoncé and her mom, Tina Knowles, documented the evening through a series of sweet posts on social media. On Nov. 23, Beyoncé initially shared a video montage on set to her song “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus. The short video featured a series of photos and clips, including some of Williams in character, the marquee on the theater, as well as sweet snaps posing with the playbill alongside Rowland and her mom. Toward the end of the video, she shared a photo from backstage of Williams sandwiched between Beyoncé and Rowland as they embraced her in a hug. Another clip captured a brief video of the trio interacting backstage, followed by Williams’ final bow at the end of the show. The Grammy Award- winning singer shared a separate post the later in the day, posting similar pictures and videos that captured the essence of the evening. In the caption, the singer simply wrote, “My Belle.” Rowland honored the sweet moment on her Instagram story, resharing a post from Essence that featured the snap of Beyoncé, Williams, and Rowland embracing. The “Mea Culpa” star simply captioned the photo with emojis, adding, “❤️🤎❤️.” Tina Knowles also marked the occasion on social media, posting the same video as her daughter on . “It is always great seeing Destiny’s Child together,” she wrote in part in the caption. “We watched as Michelle kill this role ! She saying like an angel and looked like a goddess ,!!! Ride or die friends who support and love each other ❤️.” Destiny’s Child, , featured a lineup that consisted of Beyoncé, Rowland, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson. After , they were replaced by Williams and Farrah Franklin, though Franklin left the group six months after joining. Despite , the members of Destiny’s Child have still supported one another in their solo endeavors and . In November 2023, Rowland, Williams, Luckett, and Roberson of her “Renaissance” concert film in Los Angeles. Previously, Destiny’s Child reunited on-stage at the Super Bowl in February 2013, with Rowland and Williams joining Beyoncé to perform “Bootylicious” and “Independent Women” before they joined in on “Single Ladies.” They also made an appearance at Beyoncé’s historic Coachella set in 2018 after she became the first Black woman to headline the festival. The trio performed their hits “Lose My Breath,” “Say My Name,” and “Soldier” for the occasion. Francesca Gariano is a New York City-based freelance journalist reporting on culture, entertainment, beauty, lifestyle and wellness. She is a freelance contributor to TODAY.com, where she covers pop culture and breaking news.let it be known that has her support when he's in action on the field for the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as when he's off it. It comes after was nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, the second time he is up for the honor in his career. While isn't one for sharing much about her relationship on social media, keen-eyed fans noticed a show of support by the singer. When the Kansas City Chiefs revealed was up for the award on Instagram, she liked the post. This got fans talking, with one fan writing: "Omg Taylor liked this!!" Another wrote: "Sobbing Taylor liked this aw." Importance of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award As mentioned, this is the second time is up for the award which goes to a player from one of the NFL's 32 teams for excellence on and off the field. He was nominate back in 2020, though took home the honor. "The presented by Nationwide recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field," the NFL's website reads. "The award was established in 1970 and was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame running back, "Each team nominates one player who has had a significant positive impact on his community, with one winner selected from the 32 nominees. "Each year, nominees are recognized beginning in Week 14 with a WPMOY trophy silhouette helmet decal applied through the end of the season. "In addition, all current players who have received this esteemed award are honored with a trophy silhouette patch on the front of their jerseys." The winner receives a $265,000 donation to a charity of their choice, while all nominees receive $55,000.
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