Shop my picks
The gear I actually trust: my home IT toolkit, computers, laptops and parts, what I take to the beach and the water, and the supplies that make my Christmas printables shine.
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the home IT toolkit
What I'd keep in a drawer for fixing, backing up and speeding up the computers in your house, from years on the help desk and 5 years as a Navy IT3.
Repair & maintenance
Precision screwdriver kit
Interchangeable bits and a magnetic driver. Opens laptops, phones and game controllers.
Check price on AmazonElectric air duster
Dust is the top cause of overheating I saw on the help desk. Reusable, no cans to buy.
Check price on AmazonStorage & backup
Networking
Mesh Wi-Fi system
Fixes "my Wi-Fi doesn't reach the bedroom," the most common home tech complaint.
Check price on AmazonComfort & setup
Surge protector
Look for a joule rating. A plain power strip won't protect anything.
Check price on AmazonPCs, laptops, parts & peripherals
Whether you're buying a computer, upgrading the one you have or building from scratch, these are the categories I point people to first.
Desktops
Prebuilt gaming PC
Ready to play out of the box, with no build required. Check the graphics card before the price.
Check price on AmazonEveryday desktop
For email, school, streaming and office work. Get one with an SSD.
Check price on AmazonAll-in-one PC
The screen and computer in one, with a single cord. Great for a kitchen or family room.
Check price on AmazonLaptops
Laptop for school & work
Look for 16GB of RAM and an SSD. Those two make the biggest everyday difference.
Check price on AmazonGaming laptop
Desktop-class graphics you can take with you. Expect more weight and shorter battery life.
Check price on Amazon2-in-1 touchscreen laptop
Folds into a tablet for notes, drawing and watching shows.
Check price on AmazonMacBook
Long battery life and built to last. A favorite for creators and students.
Check price on AmazonParts & upgrades
NVMe SSD
The single best upgrade for a slow computer. Boot times drop to seconds.
Check price on AmazonRAM upgrade kit
More memory means fewer slowdowns with lots of tabs open. Match your motherboard's type.
Check price on AmazonProcessor (CPU)
The brain of the build. Make sure the socket matches your motherboard.
Check price on AmazonPower supply (80+ Gold)
Don't go cheap here. A bad power supply can take other parts with it.
Check price on AmazonPeripherals
beach & fishing gear
The Navy gave me a love of the water I never lost. This is what I pack for a day at the beach or on the bank with a line in.
Beach day
Fishing
Spinning rod & reel combo
The easiest setup to learn on, and good enough to keep using.
Check price on AmazonTackle box with lures
A starter assortment covers most freshwater and inshore fishing.
Check price on AmazonFishing pliers
Unhooks fish and cuts line. Get stainless or aluminum for saltwater.
Check price on AmazonKeep it cold
christmas printables supplies
Everything you need to print, color and gift my holiday cards and coloring pages.
For printing cards
For coloring pages
For gifting & display
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are shown on Amazon and may change.