Essentials
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
So, I have been lounging around watching YouTube and something called GQ Essentials popped up after I was watching some Every Day Carry videos. I felt inspired to put a list of essentials of my own together. This will be several lists with some of my current favorite items in each category.
Office Essentials
Since most people that come to my site are interested in tech, I thought that I would start here. However, check out the Mac Attack page for a lot more on the subject.
1. Wiim Ultra- This a recent addition to my office audio setup. It fills most of my audio needs as either a pre-amp or as a headphone amp.
2. 2021M1 Mac Mini - I traded in my 2018 when the M1 came out. Wow! What an upgrade! Nearly silent and runs so much smoother.
3. Denon X4200H Receiver - (Note: this receiver may not be around now, but I would recommend Denon. ) This is the heart of a lot of the things I do in the room. It connects to my main system in the living room, while it also has several computers and devices connected to it. For my many needs, a 4k switching receiver made sense compared to powered speakers. If I ever pair down devices, I will still use this for music and movies. This one has 3 outputs (one is just a repeater of HDMI out 1) so it really comes in handy with a 3 monitor setup.
4. AKG K701 Headphones - When I don't want to listen to speakers, these things sound delicious getting a feed from a Cambridge DACMagic and Heed CanAmp.
5. Orbi Modem and Wifi - Nearly perfect system. It is easy to setup and with its capable satellite units in a couple rooms, I have great coverage inside and out.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Living Room Furniture Essentials
I have a lot of tech in the living room, but I wanted to mention some of the furniture in the space along with a few essential pieces of tech. This list will be a little longer than some of the others.
Ekornes Stressless chair and ottoman - When I want to listen to headphones and chill, this is my favorite place in the house. I have the optional "personal table" that allows me to have a place for a laptop or tablet. I think it looks great, too.
Stickly Sectional - I bought this a few years back. The couch has gotten a little wear and tear from so many dogs jumping on and off it all day, but it is still so darn comfy. We can get 4 or 5 people on it with a few dogs and still feel very cozy. We are now debating whether we want to have it reupholstered or whether we want something new. Hard to believe the cost is so similar for new vs renewing, so we will see how we go. Very hard to find something this comfy that I know will last on the market.
Open Ottoman - We decided to move the old teal ottoman to the sunroom because we wanted a way to have the projector setup 24/7. This ottoman gives us space for storing 3D glasses, game controllers, etc. However, it also allows us to keep the projector in the same spot so we can watch movies at the touch of a button. Much better for us than mounting the projector.
BDI 8927 Stereo Cabinet - This was a beautiful addition to the room. I know a lot of people don't like to see so much tech in a room, so this allowed me to get some of it out of view. I like the fact that the stand has wheels, so it makes it easier to get behind it when I need to change something out.
Eames Lounge Chair Replica - Our is similar to the one linked, but we bought it from a store that no longer carries it. We love it and it is very comfy for shorter people. I am a bit too tall to use it a lot, but it looks great and my wife sits in it most of the time.
Living Room Tech Essentials
I have a lot of tech in the living room, so I will have to limit this to my favorite things in the space.
Denon AVR X3700H Receiver - The heart of my audio/video systems. It has three HDMI outputs, so I have one feeding the TV, one feeding my office, and the third is available when I want to hook up the projector. It has Airplay2 and can also be controlled by some extent with an Amazon Dot. This was my 2020 Tech of the year.
AppleTV 4 - I have three of these in the house and they are almost essential for an iOS user that wants audio coming out of their own setups. They have beautiful screensavers, the popular podcast app, have access to my iTunes files, access to Apple Music, and plenty of apps that make me happy. The airplay feature means I can control what is playing by voice with iOS/HomePod.
B&W 684 Speakers - These things sound amazing and were a big upgrade from my beloved Monitor Audio RS6 speakers.
Epson 5040ub Projector - When we watch and action movie or major sporting event, I will get out the projector and 100 screen on a tripod stand. It definitely improves the experience.
Samsung 4k TV - Amazing picture and I love the little break out box that means you only need to run one cable to the TV. Also, it has a growing set of useful apps. I prefer its YouTube app to the one I have on my AppleTV.
Marantz TT15 Turntable - My Project Debut died, so I upped my analog game. This is an amazing turntable.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Kitchen Essentials
Kohler K-6448 Sink- Obviously, a sink, faucet, refrigerator, and stove are all necessities. I have to mention my cast iron sink because it was the best upgrade I put in my kitchen. It is huge, which means I can bathe my pups in there without an issue and it gives me a good place to put dishes after a meal (before clean up). It looks great, too.
HomePod - I have a HomePod that sits between the living room and kitchen area. It is awesome for listening to music because it sounds great and can hear me over the music when it is playing.
KitchenAide Mixer - Awesome for mixing dough for pizza to grinding meat for hamburgers. It also looks like a piece of artwork sitting on the counter.
Breville Espresso machine - This is a game changer and makes it difficult to go back to drip coffee machines. It is great out of the box for making Espresso, Cappuccino, etc. Yet, you can also save your own settings. It is a game changer for my mornings.
Clearly Filtered Pitcher - We bought pitcher and some filters so we could cut back on drinking from plastic bottles. Not cheap, but worth every penny to rid my water of harmful contaminents.
Bathroom Essentials
Kohler Mirror - I had the bathroom remodeled in early 2021, so I updated the mirror with one that has Alexa and Bluetooth built in with its own speakers. No more clutter with all the stuff I had to plug in to get audio before.
Wahl Clipper - Great for trimming up sideburns, eyebrows, etc.
Sonicare DiamondClean - This does a great job of keeping my teeth clean between doctor visits.
DoBrass Tub Shower Faucet - This setup allows for three different setting, the faucet, the overhead shower and the handheld shower. Ideal for my use.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Outdoor Essentials
Big Green Egg - Whether you want to grill, smoke, or stir fry, this is the answer.
Pentair 520555 IntelliChlor IC40 Salt Chlorine Generator Cell (US Version): Garden & Outdoor - Salt water for the pool is a game changer. Being able to swim every day in the summer without having dried out skin and red eyes was worth the price of the install. It means that I use the pool much more often than I did when I was using chlorine.
Airport Express - Apple added Airplay 2 to some of their newest versions of the Airport Express and I have one in my "sunroom" connected to an amp and a couple speakers. It allows me to tell the HomePod in my kitchen to play something in the Sunroom and I have music playing when I get to the pool. It can also be controlled from an iPhone, so it is great for getting tunes outside.
Hot Springs Hot Tub - When I first bought the house, I decided I wanted a hot tub for my sunroom area outside, though I moved it outside to make more room in the sunroom. This thing has been a blessing for my bad back. I have had some maintenance for it over the years (updated heater, new top, and a new lifting mechanism) but it has been worth it. The winter months wouldn't be the same without it.
Weber 46502001 Spirit S-315 LP Gas Grill - The is an essential item when I want to grill quickly and don't have time to get the Egg up and running. I had been using a Weber Silver B (or something like that) for close to 20 years. This is the replacement we got in 2020 and it is fantastic. I thought about going with a different brand since the price is so high on Weber, but if I can get 20 years out of this one, it will be well worth it.
On the Go Essentials
Jeep JK Unlimited - I bought a Jeep a couple years ago after a nice run with BMWs. About 20 years ago, I traded in my Jeep for a BMW and I was ready to go back. The Unlimited made it more feasible for my everyday use. It added storage that I was missing in my old 2 door Jeep. It made it easy to get my pups in and out with the extra doors to the backseat and even the heated seats are perfect when my back is stiff in the morning. The ability to change out tops, remove doors, and simply have fun were all ingredients that got me to bite. I love this thing!
Smittybilt 2780 2.54 CFM Universal Air Compressor - With Jeep you really need something air up those big tires. I had one of those inexpensive compressors that use a light socket for power, but it killed one of them along with the fuse in the socket. With Jeeps, the tires often need air and this compressor powers directly from the battery. Which means it is a lot faster and not relying on the fuse. I am pretty happy with it for the money.
Backup camera - This is an absolute necessity for Jeep owners. The seats have huge headrests. Then in the middle, you have a big tire. It is dangerous to back out of a spot with this thing. Putting a camera in the middle of the tire fixes those issues and makes it much safer when you have to back out.
Emergency First Aid kit - You never know what you might get into out there. I prefer being ready, just in case.
Apple CarPlay - I decided to change out the factory radio a while back. The ability to push a button and have Siri play music or give me directions is great. Apple continues to update CarPlay, so it has gotten better every year.
Smittybilt 2780 2.54 CFM Universal Air Compressor - With Jeep you really need something air up those big tires. I had one of those inexpensive compressors that use a light socket for power, but it killed one of them along with the fuse in the socket. With Jeeps, the tires often need air and this compressor powers directly from the battery. Which means it is a lot faster and not relying on the fuse. I am pretty happy with it for the money.
Backup camera - This is an absolute necessity for Jeep owners. The seats have huge headrests. Then in the middle, you have a big tire. It is dangerous to back out of a spot with this thing. Putting a camera in the middle of the tire fixes those issues and makes it much safer when you have to back out.
Emergency First Aid kit - You never know what you might get into out there. I prefer being ready, just in case.
Apple CarPlay - I decided to change out the factory radio a while back. The ability to push a button and have Siri play music or give me directions is great. Apple continues to update CarPlay, so it has gotten better every year.
Camera Gear
This section is constantly changing because the things I bring along will depend on where I am going. However, these are the basic things I will carry:
Sony A7 RIII - This is my ideal camera... tons of megapixels for cropping, high dynamic range for edits, 4k video, and lightweight. It is a game changer for both video and photos.
Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens - This is the lens that is typically on my camera. It is a great walk around zoom and it costs less than Sony's options....especially their midrange zoom with f2.8 which costs more than twice as much.
Metabones adapter - This made it possible to use all of the Canon Lenses I have purchased over the years with my new Sony camera. Lenses just don't have the resale value that I would like, so being able to keep around lenses like my 100-400mm without spending a lot of extra money is ideal. It also means that I can continue to use my Canon 5D Mark III as a second body.
Canon 70-200 or 100-400 - Typically, I carry one of these two lenses alongside the Tamron I mentioned above. It mainly depends on where I am going. If I can get by with the 70-200, I will carry it because it is lighter. However, for trips where I need max zoom, I will live with the extra weight of the 100-400.
Parrot Anafi Drone - I will often take this drone because it is so lightweight and can be controlled via an iPhone when I just want to fly it over a lake or something. If I think I will be using it a lot, I might bring along the controller or switch to the DJ Mavic Platinum.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Note: I get paid commissions for purchases made through any links to Amazon products on this page and website.
Travel Bag
I have more bags than most ladies. However, this is my current "go to" setup and the things I bring for a day or overnight trip.
Travel Bag - This is the perfect bag for many of my needs. It can be carried or worn on the back. It has room for a 15 inch laptop, a camera, and a drone. Below are a few stock photos that show its versatility.
Anker Powercore II 20000 Battery - Always need to take this along just in case. Power outages aren't your friend!
Swiss Army Knife - I take this on any adventure. It has scissors, a couple knives, a screwdriver, a toothpick, pliers, bottle opener, etc. It is perfect for any little job that comes along.
2016 MBP or iPad Pro- Depending on where I am going and for how long, I will either bring the MacBook Pro or the iPad. It typically depends on whether I will be gone for a couple days or a week. If I bring along the MBP, I also bring a Hyperdrive adapter and if I bring the iPad, I bring the Apple Pencil. On occasion, I will bring both of them since I use the iPad so much for reading.
Computer free direct backup - While this doesn't have the speed of my USB3 drives, the Lacie Boss has 2TB of space and allows me to travel without a laptop. It will allow me to drop my SD card in the drive and then see the images on my iPad or iPhone. If I bring the laptop, I will usually bring along an NNMe enclosure with a WD Black.
Clothes
While I am no fashion plate, there are a few essentials that I really like.
Black Chuck Taylor Converse - These things are a staple to my wardrobe. They go with all of my jeans and I like the retro look. I have had them for 10 years, so it may be getting close to the time to get a new pair. Of course, as I get older, the 70s version has more support, so I may see if I can locate a pair in my size....maybe some high tops for some variety.
White Adidas - I prefer the kind with the holes instead of stripes, so I can be comfortable all summer. For shorts and jeans (when I want to wear something beside black shoes), these are my favs.
Bill's Khakis - These are my favorite khakis and since I have a "business casual" dress code at work, these do the trick.
Champion Sweatshirts - I have been wearing Champion Sweatshirts for 20 years. They are nice and thick and last forever.
Apple Watch Series 4 - This watch makes it quick and easy to see notifications, check the weather, control music, and with the ability to easily switch out bands, it can go with anything. I do like to wear a mechanical watch on special occasions, but the ability to keep up with my activity circles on a daily basis means I feel naked when I accidentally forget to wear it.
Quick Wrap Up
While this is a pretty long list of essentials, the essentials needed change depending on the circumstance. Obviously, I could live without a lot of these things, but if I paired down to mainly the stuff on the above lists, I would still be able to do the core things I enjoy.