Spring has sprung, Milwaukee! In celebration, here are a few of our favorite #WeWant goodies to spruce up the yard, house, garden or even yourself!
Illuminate it: Night Stars Landscape Lights
There are outdoor lights, and there are outdoor lights powered BY LASERS! The Night Stars Landscape Lights fall into that latter category, projecting a zillions of tiny green stars all the way across your backyard, bouncing off of trees, power lines and anything else in its path. The super-bright projection stakes into your ground (and don't look right at it, as I did), then plugs in via an external outlet and makes for a lovely splash of color for gardens, parties or just as a unique lighting solution. Apparently, the projector can be used indoors, but I don't see how; this is way too bright for anything but, say, all a ballroom in a mansion. At $130, though, Night Star Landscape Lights are probably best for special events or for people who have gazebos (not me), or for people who just like playing with lasers (me). Needless to say, my backyard no longer looks like anyone else's on the block. – Andy Tarnoff
Hang it: Planter Garden
This will finally be the summer that I have an amazing garden and have all the herbs and veggies a girl could want. To help me get started, this darling hanging planter set will be perfect in my kitchen. The suspended terra cotta pots can hold herbs I would like indoors – and closer to my kitchen island for snipping. The planter hanger itself doesn't come with the pots – so you could use basic pots or some fancier ones if you'd like. I like the classic muted look of the plain – but love that you can easily change them out, too. – Carolynn Buser
Use them: Fermenting jars
My coworker Nick Barth knocked my socks off with his spicy homemade sour kraut and it inspired me to finally make kraut of my own after threatening to do so for years. There are a lot of different fermenting jars on the market, and although they are more expensive than plain ol' Mason jars, I know it's an investment I will never regret. After all, Usinger's brats really deserve to be topped with only the best. – Molly Snyder
Ride it: Refurbished bike from Milwaukee Bike Collective
Give the gift of wheels! Milwaukee is becoming more bike-friendly every year, and for me there's no better way to get around town. The Milwaukee Bike Collective doesn't just offer help repairing, maintaining, and educating you about your bike, but they also sell refurbished bikes at low cost. Give an awesome gift and support a local cause – everybody wins. – Nick Barth
Ride with it: Bicycle Wine Rack
Outdoor music season in right around the corner. Let's be realistic, one bottle doesn't cut it when looking out at a gorgeous view and listening to great music. One way to lighten the load is the handy dandy Bicycle Wine Rack. I want this. Badly. You can even stop at the new Fyxation in Riverwest and buy one similar! This handmade tan leather bicycle wine rack is perfect for taking wine with you on the go. It attaches to most bike frames with antique brass fasteners, while there are hidden clamps hold the bottle securely. You have to protect your investment after all. This olive oil-treated vegetable-tanned leather will only look better as it ages, just like wine. – Carolynn Buser
Cook with it: The Ribalizer Rib Cooker
I consider myself to be a pretty skilled griller on both the gas and the charcoal grill, so when most grill-related accessories come along I generally poo-poo them as unnecessary. However, I gave the Ribalizer a try because I thought the self-contained unit which is placed on top of the grill grate might cut back on grill mess. And, indeed, it did. But it was more of a joy than that. The device also allows grillers to add wood chips for smoky flavor along with beer, wine or soda to increase moisture and taste. In under two hours, we grilled ribs that were perfectly tender and rich and resulted in almost no cleanup thanks to disposable pans and the easy-to-wash cooking grates. I also appreciated the well-written, simple-to-follow instructions and the fact I bought such top quality ribs from my local butcher. I'm sold. – Molly Snyder
Grill it: GrillGrates
I'm not a outdoor grilling expert by any means, but I know my away around a gas or charcoal grill. Still, I've never grilled as well as the times I've used the GrillGrates that were sent to me for review. It's not a complicated concept, really: these interlocking raised panels sit on top of your grates and provide infrared heat for more even cooking. They prevent flare ups, with perfect sear marks every time. But my favorite part is the included "Grate Tool," which is a mashup between a spatula and a fork: it reaches between the raised rails to lift your food rather than scrape it across the grill. So far, I've made hamburgers and turkey burgers with GrillGrates, and comparing them to the burgers on the other side of the grill, these were juicer and way better. A set of two 13.75-inch grates (and tool) are $50 and well worth the money for serious outdoor cooking enthusiasts. – Andy Tarnoff
Grow in it: Wood Country Cedar Wood Vegetable Raised Planter Box
I have a huge outdoor patio on my second-level flat, but no actual ground to plant in. I think spring is finally here, so my next purchase will be a raised planter box or two to use on my deck. Veggies, herbs and flowers will be planted in this Cedar Wood Raised Planter Box so I can pick and use all summer long as needed. – Carolynn Buser
Weed It: Stirrup Hoe
Hold the jokes for a second and listen up. I came across one of these in a pile of tools last year and it was a revelation. A standard hoe can be a little unwieldy, but the stirrup style makes weeding a breeze. Run it between your planted rows about an inch or so under the surface and cut all the weeds down in one fell swoop. Go back and pick them all out of the loosened soil and you're all set. It can be used similarly to loosen and begin turning the soil when it's time to plant. It quickly became invaluable to me; I can't imagine gardening without one. – Nick Barth