EDITOR’S PICKS

Cutco Cutlery

I’ve been needing a knife upgrade for quite some time, so I asked around for some brand recommendations. The name that routinely came up: Cutco, the largest manufacturer of kitchen cutlery in the U.S. and Canada. After doing my research, I discovered what makes these knives so popular: All of Cutco’s knives are made from high-carbon stainless steel, which allows the knife to hold a sharp edge while the stainless steel component keeps the knife looking beautiful. They also feature ergonomically designed handles that are comfortable to hold. I picked up the basics, per Cutco’s recommendation: the Petite Chef Knife (for chopping, dicing and mincing fresh fruits and vegetables), a Trimmer (for slicing thin slices of tomato and cucumber; for trimming fat from beef and chicken; for coring cabbage, lettuce, etc.), a 2 ¾-inch Paring Knife (for paring, peeling, coring, mincing and slicing smaller fruits and vegetables), a Carver (for carving meat; for slicing pineapple, eggplant and small melons), a Slicer (for slicing warm bread, cake and rolled roasts; for shredding cabbage and lettuce) and a Spatula Spreader (for mixing, spreading, slicing and serving). They’re not sold in stores (instead, by trained reps who will come to your home and offer you a demo), so visit www.cutco.com to locate a sales rep near you.

Fisher-Price Stay-in-Place Sun Shade

Those rays will soon be piercing through your car windows, so protect your wee ones’ peepers with this sunshade that will stay in place—even when you roll down your windows. I know, I know—it’s kinda dorky looking, and adhering it to your car’s windows screams “Mom” (and not in a cool way), but it really and truly stays put, and I’ve never found one that actually does.
($6.99, www.bestbuybaby.com)

WIN High Performance Sport Detergent

Microfiber workout clothes are great for moisture management and body heat mitigation, but they also attract bacterial odors that tend to linger—even after a wash. Instead of cleaning my workout gear with traditional detergent, on the recommendation of a fitness-fanatic friend, I’ve been using WIN High Performance Sport Detergent. Now, my exercise clothes smell (and feel!) fantastic—no sweaty, smelly stench anywhere! It’s actually the first official licensed detergent of the U.S. Olympic Team, and it’s used in Olympic training centers across the country, so you know this stuff really works.
($25.99 for a four-pack, www.sportdetergent.com)