Axios Des Moines' favorite things of 2022

Welcome to our end-of-the-year feature showcasing our favorite things of the year.

• Check back. We'll be posting more in the coming days.

Home pet sitters

Jason: I hate leaving my kitty home alone for extended periods.

• And I don't like to inconvenience neighbors with daily poop scooping duties.

Solution: I started hiring professionals this year.

• They come to my home and tend to the specific needs of lil' Harriet.

Zoom in: I'm partial to Southside Sitter, a DSM business owned by my friends Rachel and John Bradley.

• Costs are based on your pet needs. (I pay $22 for each 20-minute visit.)

Be smart: There are other businesses and individuals who offer home pet services across the metro that can be easily found on sites like Rover.

• The Humane Society offers tips on how to select a good one.

Truffle oil

Linh: I'm a big fan of AllSpice's white truffle oil.

Driving the news: If you're like me, you like to give the illusion of being fancy without breaking the bank. Enter the truffle oil.

State of play: The local spice shop's oil is made using a tea steeping method.

• The result is a strong, earthy taste that has more garlic notes than black truffle.

How to use it: I just dab a tiny bit on whatever food I'm eating and tell my guests that it's a truffle-flavored dish. The 2 oz. bottle ($11.50) is small, but mighty.

• I'll serve it on mashed potatoes or fettuccine alfredo. If I'm feeling bold, I'll add it to a DiGiorno pizza. Bon appétit.

Of note: They also have black truffle oil ($9.50). If you go to the store, you can sample both before buying one.

Where to get it: Find it online here or go to the East Village store at 400 E. Locust St., Des Moines.

The Cheese Shop

Jason: The Cheese Shop is my favorite DSM business.

Why I like it: They sell more than 100 artisan and farmhouse cheeses.

• Their employees offer samples and tell the story behind each product.

Plus: Cheese is a great gift and helps me resolve many last-minute shopping headaches.

🧀 Grab a hunk: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm

• 833 42nd St.

Custom local art

Linh: My biggest questions every holiday season: What do you get the person who already has everything?

• I usually end up commissioning a portrait for them.

Zoom in: I've gone to local artist Sketchmesarah several times.

• Ordering custom art is intimidating to me, especially price-wise and what the heck do you ask for.

• Sarah's been easy to work with and is transparent about costs.

The bottom line: Support local artists! If you're looking for other ideas, support young people at ArtForce Iowa through the nonprofit's online shop.

Bypassing concert ticket fees

Jason: I was irritated when I ordered Justin Bieber tickets in April and got slapped with a $35 per-ticket fee.

• But after a few calls to some of Des Moines’ most popular venues, I discovered concertgoers can bypass lots of ticket fees by ordering in person at the venue's ticket windows.

Pro tip: I also discovered Bandsintown.

• It's an app that is synced with my online music library that sends alerts when artists I like schedules a DSM metro performance.

Cold hard cash

Jason: Don't give gift cards this holiday season.

Why it matters: Gift cards waste money.

• People misplace or forget about them, frequently surrendering balances to retailers or through inactivity fees.

By the numbers: As much as 3% of gift cards are never redeemed, which amounts to billions of dollars in consumer losses each year, CBS News reports.

• Up to 90% of recipients are willing to spend more than the amount, according to a report this year from the Blackhawk Network, a California-based business that assists retailers with gift card services.

Be smart: Use gift cards promptly to reduce the likelihood of loss, Iowa Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald advises.

• Complaints about unfair practices can be filed with the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.