At a recent Halloween party, some friends and I began talking about items we really like and would recommend to others. I thought it would be good to share with you what is on my list. (Since I'm an avid fan of the shopping channels, some of those items were purchased from HSN or QVC, but you can most likely find them elsewhere.)
Z-VOX―I first saw this on HSN and requested it as a gift, but it is also available from other sources. I hear normal conversations just fine, however; I admit to having some difficulty hearing certain female voices on TV, or when actors are whispering. For a while, I increased the volume and took a tip from my sister to use the subtitles feature when watching some DVDs. But the Z-VOX eliminates my problem! It enhances voices and reduces the competing noise. It has various levels of clarity, and programs/movies can be watched at normal volume. I love, love, love this! If you have someone who has difficulty discerning certain levels of speech, this is an excellent gift. I've seen it priced around $120 to $150.
MALDEN MILLS POLAR FLEECE SHEETS―I purchased these from QVC three years ago. That first year, I also gave a set to each of my
sons. One loved them as much as I did, and we both found ourselves
taking them off to wash and immediately placing them back on our beds. Since then, I've purchased a total of nine sets, seven of those as gifts, and everyone loves them and requests a second set to avoid doing what Ryan and I did. As a plus, these are the easiest sheets in the world to take on and off; you never get into a cold bed; and because they breathe, you never get hot. Some people keep these on their beds year round, but I only do so from October through April. They have seasonal or plain designs, and currently, prices on sale range from $25–$45 (XL Twin– CalKing) This is a signifcant discount and, even not on sale, a terrific bargain!
GIANNIOS CHOCOLATES―I love, love, love these gourmet chocolates! I've tried brands offered by other shopping channels, and hands down, these are the best. They are definitely on par with other chocolatier offerings or specialty chocolates like Godiva. But just like other gourmet food, they are not inexpensive. If you pay attention, you can get these at a special sale price on HSN. They offer these in a variety of tins and sizes, and special boxes. For instance, their store in Chicago sells their chocolates at $15/lb. HSN has a 5.5lb. tin on sale for $69.95 with free shipping. At Halloween, their 5.5lb tins were even less.
These are only three items on my personal must have list. I suggest always checking other sources before purchasing an item from anywhere, but sometimes the shear volume of sales can result in a lower price as on a shopping channel. If there are must-have items on your list, please share them with me. We each have to decide what we really like, but it helps us make wise choices when we know something is a favorite of others.
