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I’m still keeping up with Brinity on Insta, though, don’t worry.

I'm a Shopping editor (and mom to two toddlers) who covers a variety of topics, including helpful parenting/kids products, exciting gadgets, cozy products (think: home goods and fashions that'll make you want to snuggle), and any magical Disney item that crosses my path.

Idk about you, but I felt a gaping hole in my life after the winners of Love Island were crowned. If you're feeling the same and suddenly have SIX nights back of your life with nothing but time to fill, might I suggest some ideas? Perhaps you want to try your hand at learning to tie-dye or play Mahjong? Or maybe you want to take on a 1000-piece puzzle! There's even a Love Island game in here! Let's start perusing, shall we?

The goal of the game is to be crowned the hottest Islander in the Villa (duh) by completing challenges, coupling up, and avoiding "Red Flags." The game has a set of "Villa Life Cards" with recognizable moments from the show, like the Fire Pit, the Hideaway, Stand on Business, and Vibe Checks that help progress play. If you get too many "Red Flags," you could be banished from the island (but, fear not, you can come back as a new Bombshell!)

Promising review: "If you love the show, you will love this game! I brought this out with a bunch of friends, and everyone had a great time. The cards keep things super lively! You’ve got everything from Vibe Checks and Fire Pit questions to full-on challenges where you have to strut into the “villa,” plus some spicy ones. And of course, there are the classic 'I’ve got a text!' cards. The questions keep everyone laughing." —Sara

I have a Kindle (a previous edition) and, surprisingly, have become a big fan of it, especially when traveling. While I absolutely prefer a hardcover book, it's nearly impossible to put more than two (which is a stretch in itself) in my suitcase along with my clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc. I read most of my books these days through the Libby app (all you need is a library card for access), which can be used via your phone or Kindle. No need to spend tons of money on novels when I simply am not someone who rereads them! I like that I can use this one near water without fear of it getting destroyed (yikes).

Promising review: "This is probably the best purchase I have ever made. I don’t know why I waited this long. I already have Kindle Unlimited, but with this device, the world is at my fingertips. My eyes don’t hurt, and I can adjust the brightness and font to what I need. At night, I need the bigger font, so that helps so much. It’s lightweight, easy to hold, and the perfect size. I had this with me on my family vacation and I could not put it down. The charge lasts forever. I have only charged this twice. If you love to read and are sensitive to light, this will help. It’s perfect." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I also ordered one of those book lights that you have to clip directly onto your book. I haven't even tried the clip-on yet because I LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH!! It's so versatile. It is the perfect solution for when I'm up in the middle of the night, and I still want to stay in bed and read while my husband sleeps next to me. Even when I don't have to worry about disturbing someone, this light is still my go-to when reading. It's better than any nightstand lamp because you can focus this light directly on your book or other types of hands-on projects. I had worried that it would be uncomfortable around my neck, but it's so lightweight I hardly even notice it" —Linda Holloway

Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in seven colors).

MNM Impressions Co is a small business based in Missouri that sells handmade wooden items.

Promising review: "Item matched description and met expectations. Super cute bookmark idea. I paired this with a page holder for a reader-themed white elephant gift exchange, and the recipient loved it." —Ashley

Get it from MNM Impressions Co on Etsy for $4.15+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "This mat is exactly what my partner and I need for our Hoboken apartment. It is built to support both yoga and HIIT workouts, and is sweat-wicking enough to let us use it back-to-back in our busy lives. This brand is exactly what we have been looking for!" —Eric Vishnevetsky

Get it from Amazon for $94 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "This was a great little kit. I recently started crocheting, and this kit really helped me learn to read patterns. There is a step-by-step video tutorial, but by about halfway through making my koala, I didn’t need it anymore and was able to just follow the pattern. This kit was very helpful in teaching me how to also increase and decrease rows as well." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (available in 12 animals).

All you have to do is place one of the colored "dotz" onto the garment you want to dye and add water!

Promising review: "So easy for kids to do. You will need to purchase T-shirts separately. Great value too. Makes bright colors. Kids enjoyed making these and less mess than with other techniques. I recommend this product." —Rekindled Romance Reader

Promising review: "I just got my mini pool table in the mail yesterday, and I already played a few matches with my family! This is more fun than I expected; it is definitely worth the money. It is super quick and easy to set up; you don't even need the manual. It is very easy to store and of good quality. The attention to detail was something that I appreciated and the little pool balls look so cute! They have a nice weight to it." —Yelinett camejo

Get it from Amazon for $74.99+ (available in three colors).

You might also want to pick up this book, Play Mahjong!: An All-Levels Guide To American Mahjong.

Promising review: "I love this Mahjong set because it brings such a fun, summer-y energy to the table. It has everything you need from tiles to racks to the mat. The patterned mat is very intricate, and I love the tile designs playing off a summer party!" —90sc

Get it from Anthropologie for $315 (originally $450).

The kit comes with an LED display wax melting pot, 3 pounds of soy wax, 16 candle tins, 8 essential oil scents, 12 wax dyes, 16 gift boxes, 20 ribbons, 20 wooden holders, 20 wicks, 20 stickers, 20 warning stickers, anti-scalding gloves, a stirring spoon, and a silicone anti-scalding mat.

Promising review: "Ordered this kit to make candles during the Super Bowl for a couple of people that only watched it for the halftime show. I would recommend this kit to anyone! It has everything you need to make candles, and it was so fun to use; we wished the football game lasted even longer! We added some dried flowers to the candles and they turned out amazing!!! If you are new to making candles and want a very organized and easy-to-use kit, this is the one for you." —Sofia Hardin

Get it from Amazon for $49.98+ (available in three styles).

The kit includes wooden pressing plates, tweezers, scissors, a craft knife, instructions, five bookmarks, five self-adhesive, semi-transparent films, and five ribbon tassels.

Promising review: "My kids love to pick me flowers, and I love to keep them forever. We have made bookmarks for teachers, and I have even purchased some for other moms whose kiddos love to pick flowers. Super easy to use and a fun time for everyone!" —Missy Lovell

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in two styles).

Promising review: "Amazing. Works wonders. The tube that makes the rice roll is amazing and produces a perfect roll each time. Makes the world of creating sushi much easier. It also comes with other molds for the rice, chopsticks, sauce bowls, chopstick holders, a very sharp knife, and more. The knife is great as it is very, very sharp but has holes on the side. I’m assuming this is to keep the rice from sticking to it while you cut the sushi. It’s a great kit. Really happy I bought it." —Jim

Get it from Amazon for $17.31+ (also available in a 27-piece set).

There are 100 puzzles total, and four different levels of difficulty to tackle —each puzzle features a logic grid to help you solve it!

Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun, but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with such creativity! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes, but this one will keep me busy for a while!" —Liz Gately

If you want to keep the fun going you can *also* snag Murdle: Volume 2 and Murdle: Volume 3 for more puzzling.

If you somehow breeze your way through the first edition, there are two more you can check out!

Promising review: "Great quality book. Thick pages with beautiful color. Engaging problems to solve (and so many of them!!!). I am almost halfway through the puzzle book within my first week of having it, and I came back to Amazon to see if there were other volumes available for purchase. I will be buying all future volumes. Great fun!" —Daniel

Promising review: "I brought this with me on a camping trip in the Colorado mountains. Once the hummingbirds discovered the feeder, they were around it constantly. After one day, they would come to the single-ring feeder held in our hands. It was so fun getting to see the hummingbirds up close." —Debbie B.

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in eight colors and in sets).

Promising review: "I was lucky to have this as a first-time miniature model project. The quality is great, and the size isn’t too small. (The second one I’m working on right now is so much smaller than this one, and I hate it.) The instructions are mostly good. Keeping the plastic 'glass' clean was the most challenging. Using spray/foam glass cleaner on the plastic really helped. In the almost last step, I used art tape instead of cutting the black paper strips to cover the frame. I used Elmer’s glue on this project, which worked wonders. If you’re on the fence and dipping toes into your into a new hobby, I’d definitely recommend this kit." —Toni T

Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in eight other styles).

Make it Cute is an eco-conscious family lifestyle brand co-founded by Amanda Seyfried and her childhood besties, Anne and Maureen!

Promising review: "This is the cutest craft kit! I recently gifted one to my niece, and she loved it so much that I decided to buy one for myself! The kit uses the best quality material, and I love the detailed illustrations. Not only will my son and I have fun playing with it, but it is also the perfect decoration for my bookshelf. I will definitely buy more as gifts this holiday season." —Anthony Cammarata

Promising review: "These are so fun! I love taking them to the lake. They are a bit slippery, which can make shuffling hard, but worth it for the waterproof aspect. They are pretty durable!" —Abby Marsing

Get it from Amazon for $15.95 and check out this waterproof version of the ever-popular Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game while you're at it!

This comes with hoops, pre-printed patterns, thread, needles, and a guide. 

Promising review: "I used to do embroidery when I was in sixth grade, and now I have decided to pick it up again and do it with my mom. She loved the surprise. This kit has helped me a lot in remembering and learning new stitches." —Reyna B

Get it from Amazon for $18.97+ (available in three sets).

Promising review: "This is such an amazing creation. You can tell the illustrator put in SO MUCH WORK into researching the Tay universe and capturing absolutely every detail possible of her entire career. I gasped at the "No, it's Becky" reference! A job very well done. I am so happy I purchased this!!" —Alexia Pitman

I bought this kit ahead of attending The Eras Tour and would recommend also buying an additional letter set. For reasons I cannot explain, this one doesn't come with any vowels. 😅 However, the rubbery beads are perfect and very easy to slide onto the clear string that comes with the kit. I loved adding the gold star and circle dividers to give my bracelets some extra pizzazz. The small scissors in the kit were also great for cutting the string with ease. They were rather soothing to craft, and I had a blast sharing them with other fans at the concert. Definitely get it!

Promising review: "I received this kit yesterday, and so far my friend and I have made five bracelets — one anklet and a necklace. Would 10/10 recommend getting one of these kits for yourself, a friend, or someone with a birthday coming up!" —Gail

Basically, instead of adding the color to these, you draw lines to create images within the colors. Fun! Pair it with these fabulous black fine-point pens for $9.99 on Amazon to complete the gift.

Promising review: "Kendra Norton’s beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and, therefore, had zero artistic ability. Now this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. This has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I’m working through." —K. DeWitt

I own Coco's Cozy Corner coloring book and love using it to unwind after a chaotic day of chasing around my toddlers. The Girl Moments iteration is just so cute, it'll likely be my next purchase after I finish the one I have!

Promising review: "I absolutely love this book! The illustrations are beautifully detailed, and the paper quality is outstanding. It's a great way to unwind and get creative. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys coloring!" —Sorianny

Promising review: "These won me over pretty quickly. The dual tips — fine point and brush — switch cleanly between detail lines and filling in larger areas, and colors layer without going streaky or patchy where they overlap, which is usually where cheaper markers fall apart. The swatch cards are a nice touch, too; you're not guessing what a color looks like from a cap.

I liked them enough that I didn't just test them at my kitchen table — I brought the set to a local coffee shop to color for a bit. Ended up with a couple of people stopping by the table to ask what I was using, and being genuinely surprised when I showed them it said Crayola on the barrel. Didn't expect a marker set to start conversations, but it did.

For the price, this is a legit way to get real blending without spending too much money. Recommended." —Tim

Get a set of 40 from Amazon for $31.99+ (also available in sets of 60 or 120).

Promising review: "Bought this as soon as I got the email that it dropped on Amazon! Love this series and will continue to purchase them. Was it the most challenging puzzle? No, but that didn't take away from the fun of putting it together. Great artwork, wacky pieces, two posters, you just can't go wrong with a magic puzzle!" —Jennifer Lawton

This is one of many puzzles from the Magic Puzzle Company, so there are lots of other ~puzzling~ possibilities once this one's finished!

If you're really ready to commit to *puzzling*, you should check out this puzzle board!

Promising review: "A new fave! This puzzle was so much fun to do. My husband even loved it — so that means it is REALLY good! :) We loved the size of the pieces and that it was a bit challenging!" —Holly B.

Here's a TikTok that shows how to play. In short, you pick a 2D or 3D puzzle from the guide and set it up to match the image. Start the timer and work to solve the puzzle with the remaining pieces. When done, stop the clock to record your time. Friends can challenge each other or you can play solo to try and beat your own best score. It requires AAA batteries, so be sure to grab some!

BuzzFeed contributor John Mihaly has this to say about this game: "We love the classic version in our home, and it's been in heavy rotation since we got our hands on it. The object of the game is to finish a puzzle using all 12 Kanoodle pieces. The 2D version lies flat, while the 3D version (you can play both with this set) requires you to build a pyramid of pieces. Simple, fun, and challenging (harder puzzles reveal fewer pieces to start)."

Promising review: "Very easy to use and fun for all ages. Great gift idea and is small and compact, so you can take it anywhere with you!" —Jocelyn

It comes with 6 sewing feet, a 3-piece needle set, a twin needle, 4 bobbins, a manual, and more.

Promising review (from a beginner): "So simple and easy to use and thread! I have three other machines that were given to me, but they are much too complicated for me. I saw a review on YouTube for this machine and absolutely fell in love with it. Buy it, you won't regret it." —Bodega Bwin

Promising review (from a sewing machine veteran): "Easy to thread, great selection of stitches. Over the years, I have gone through a few Singers. So this time I wanted to try Brother. I’m so happy I did! Definitely worth the price. It’s on the cheaper end and does well! My niece is 13, and it’s easy enough for her to start on as well." —tanya c

Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in five bundle types).

Promising review: "Great beginner's deck! Original imagery, detailed guidance on the card including the meaning in the upright and the reverse, yes/no/maybe, the planet, the astrological sign, the Chakra, and more!" —Shawnna

This book is brand-new! So there are no reviews just yet. 

There are over 1,000 Spanish words and phrases to be found throughout the book, each with the correct pronunciation and definitions alongside them!

Each comes with 12 posters and the stickers to complete them, including beautiful iterations of a lighthouse in Maine and the Monaco Grand Prix.

Promising review: "I had never even heard of paint by stickers. I’m so glad I purchased it. It’s so nice to do and relaxing. And I love the travel posters that I’m making." —Patty Z

And it stores in a convenient case for storage between games. 

Promising review: "This product met all expectations! Easy to set up right out of the box. We've used it on our kitchen table as well as a fold-up table on vacation. The paddles and ping-pong balls are top-notch. The carrying case makes it easy to transport. I bought other ping-pong balls, and they weren't as good as the ones from this brand. Perfect for indoor or outdoor fun!" —SS

Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in five sets).

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVED this book from the creative activities to the photos of the art — chef's kiss!! The photos of the crafts and trinkets were so well thought out and just so visually appealing. The breakdown of each activity was also very easy to understand and insightful." —lepetit

The kit's three paint-by-number canvases include two landscapes and one portrait of Bob. They'll also get an instruction sheet and a mini book all about Bob!

Promising review: "I have to admit I was skeptical because of the price and size. However, I got these for my husband for his birthday (he loves Bob Ross), and what a find!! We had so much fun mixing colors and painting. Would definitely recommend. The fact that they are small makes them even more special. I wish there were more to paint!" —slb m

Get it from Amazon for $8.76 and check out the coloring book version!

Each kit includes two wood carving blocks (one cherry and one basswood), a carving knife, sharpening supplies, a template, and three types of sandpaper.

Promising review: "The company is very supportive and their kit is great. It has everything you need to start working with wood. Additionally, I have really appreciated the professionalism and customer service received from them." —Sam

Promising review: "Came with all the gems 💎 and supplies needed to get this done! I only used one of the red sticky pads and hand-placed them one by one. It took me about a month and a half to complete because I did it on and off during my free time. It is truly therapeutic and good for mental health, and super satisfying when completed! 👍" —Allyssa Allison

Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in tons of styles).

Promising review: "The designs and colors are the same as shown on Amazon. Finished coasters sparkle, and the vibrant colors create eight very cute cats. There were plenty of beads to complete the project, and adhesion was excellent. Letters and numbers were sharp and easy to follow. I am delighted with these coasters." —PackLeaderJ

Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in five styles). 

BuzzFeed Home and Garden Editor Sally Elshorafa has and loves this book! She said, "This book rules! There are SO MANY STICKERS of all sizes, so you never really run out of ways to use them. J'adore!"

Promising review: "The stickers are unique and beautiful. The pages on the back of the stickers are equally as stunning. Get it!" —k80

Get it from Amazon for $23.49 (also available in a second version).

Also check out a Taylor Swift Eras-inspired sticker book.

It has 25 projects that'll each take less than 30 minutes to complete. Heads up that you'll need to grab a watercolor paint set, too.

Promising review: "This workbook is perfection. So well made and explained for beginners in the world of watercolor. So entertaining yet challenging for more advanced watercolor enthusiasts. I ordered this book and some new watercolors to practice with, and from the moment I opened it, I was obsessed. I absolutely love Sarah’s designs. As someone who hasn’t painted in years and has little experience, I found this book very helpful. It was so easy for me to start painting again and remember how much joy I feel while I am doing so. Its instructions, tips, and stunning color combinations definitely helped awaken my creativity a little more each day. 10 out of 10! 🎨🫶🏼" —Ale

There's enough clay to make 20 projects. Make It Real is a small business that sells kid-friendly art kits. 

Promising review: "This mini pottery wheel was great for my daughter, and we had a blast playing with it. It was a bit of a learning curve at first, but we figured it out. I wish the pottery we made could be bigger. Maybe this is just a beginner's kind of device, but it sparked my interest so much that I want to get something larger now and do some real pottery. Overall, it was worth it." —Jason Custodio

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in two styles). 

Promising review: "As the world’s biggest Pokémon fan, I was ecstatic when I found out that LEGO was releasing a Pokémon line. After building Eevee, I had high expectations for Pikachu. LEGO definitely didn’t let me down. Pikachu looks amazing once complete and is extremely detailed. The display stand and lighting bolts add some pizzazz to the set. The set does have a decent amount of repetition, considering Pikachu is symmetrical. I do wish that you could display it off the display stand. But, overall, I really enjoyed this set. Can’t wait to build the big one." —PhillyCharizard006

If you don't own a Nintendo Switch 2 yet, you can snag one on Amazon for $449.

I am not mincing my words when I dare say this game is better than Animal Crossing. At the time of this writing, it has only been released for a little over three weeks, and yet there are already a wild amount of videos across social media platforms with players showcasing their custom buildings and their experiences throughout the game (my 4-year-old has been begging to watch them nightly). There is just so much to do that I can't even begin to scratch the surface (though that's mostly because I have a full-time job and am a mother of two). My husband and I have been fans of the franchise since we were kids and cannot get over 1. how beautiful *and* fun this game is, and 2. how it honors the original games' origins' in such a special way (don't worry, no spoilers). Playing it feels like visiting old friends! But even if you weren't an OG player, you'll still enjoy logging hours on this game. 

My fellow editor and pal Jenae Sitzes has also jumped on this bandwagon, and we are having a *blast* talking about how much fun it is (and by that I mostly mean sending silly memes back and forth of people "watering" their plants by spitting on them and oggling over all the incredible things players have built that we'll never get to do). This game is a bonding experience! Just dive right in!

Promising review: "This really is a great, cozy game. Lots to do, the storyline is interesting, and it's nice to see a Pokémon IP that isn't just the same regurgitated formula. I also really like the developer's previous Dragon Quest Builders games. That said, there is no combat or fighting, so as mentioned, this is 100% for cozy gamers." —Brandon O'Bryan

Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in physical or digital copies).

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.