NEW PRODUCTS

Duraflame engineers a bigger, better fire

Duraflame now offers stackable logs that give you a bigger and better fire. Better yet, they are also the first manufactured logs that can safely burn in wood stoves along with the traditional fireplaces and fire pits.

The Stax logs come in three- and six-log bundles for $10 and $20, respectively.

Three logs burn for about three hours. If you want it to go longer, just add more. The logs are made of recycled wood fiber and renewable biowax, which burn cleaner than wood.

For more information, visit www.duraflame.com.

Santa's Secret: Waterer keeps trees fresh

It's the time of the year to go and pick out your fresh Christmas tree. You get it home, decorate it and then forget to water it.

Not this year. Santa has a little secret to keep it looking fresh the entire holiday season.

Kelly Walterscheid, who grew up on a farm, has a real love for Christmas. So, she developed a solution for others to enjoy a fresh tree at the holidays without all the hassle: Santas Secret Boots and Santas Secret Gift waterers.

With these beautiful and functional devices, which blend right in with the holiday decorations, there's no more stooping down, spilling water on wrapped presents and wires or knocking down fragile ornaments off a fully decorated tree.

Both work with all tree sizes and any traditional stand. There is no assembly required and setup is a breeze.

"It's not just a tube and bucket or an item you have to spend time figuring out. It is simple and effective right out of the box," said the Mesa, Ariz., resident.

Simply place a Santas Secret level on the floor, 3 feet from the tree stand. Insert the probe completely in the tree stand bowl. Fill each Santa Boot with 1 gallon of water or each Santa Gift with 2 gallons.

Start the auto-fill cycle by squeezing the primer bulb five times or more to remove the air bubbles from the feed tube and bulb. Repeat once again in 24 hours. Once you've done this, each item will keep the average tree watered continuously for 10 days and then you just refill. They even have a built-in refill indicator.

If you have a really big tree, use more than one. Included is a chart to let you know just how many devices will keep your tree alive, even while you are away.

The Santas Secret Boots are 4 inches long, 9 inches wide and 7 inches tall. They come in rudolf red, ebony black, jolly green and arctic white, and are priced at $23.

The Santas Secret Gift is 12 inches by 8 inches by 5 inches and sells for $19. It is available in ruby red, topaz blue, emerald green and amethyst violet.

And make sure to find out when your tree was cut. "Thirty days is the max. You have to ask, especially at 'big box' stores," Walterscheid said. "Many times trees are cut, stored and shipped even as early as August. They may have traveled thousands of miles and froze along the way. You have to ask. Even a fresh cut won't let an old tree soak up water."

For more information, call 480-898-0081 or visit www.santas-secret.com. Your purchases will be at your door within two to three days.