So unless you live in an underwater lair, you know that today is Earth Day. In recognition of this event, I’ve decided to feature an eco-friendly item on today’s post. I mean, we can’t get enough of earth loving products, especially ones that don’t really require us to alter our daily routine. Could you imagine if everyone actually had to put forth an effort to stop filling the air, water, and land with pollutants? It’s just unfathomable. Nope, the key to a greener planet surely lies in technological advances for lazy ass people. On that note…
With the Solar Light Cap (ThinkGeek, $34.99), you can store and conserve energy without having to lift a finger. How great is that? This generic looking baseball cap has an integrated solar panel and two LED spotlights in the brim. So picture this: you’re walking around outside on a beautiful summer day (with your hat on because it’s super sunny out) and then later that night, you’re trying to find your keys that fell out of your pocket. Hmm, if only you had a portable flashlight at your disposable, right? Well, you do. Since you were out all day in the sun, the solar panel sucked up all the sun’s nutrients and with about two hours of charging, your hat has enough power to light up the night for 2 to 18 hours (depending on brightness setting). The two LED lights are controlled by a button on the hat’s brim, which allows you to change brightness as well as change the lights to a flashing SOS mode in case of emergency. The hat is fully sealed and waterproof, so you can wear it in the sunny afternoon to charge it and still be able to utilize the LED lights on a rainy evening.
Didn’t I tell you that you could be as non-proactive as possible, and you could still help the environment with this product? I mean, this hat’s maximum run time on a full charge is 36 hours. 36 hours! Do you know how many batteries and how much outlet power you’re saving just by being your sloth-like self? I bet you didn’t know you were such an environmental activist. Pretty soon you’ll be holding pep rallies and protesting in the streets.
5 out of 5 eco-friendly stars.
Specs:
-Baseball cap features integrated solar panel and 2 LED spotlights
-Button on brim controls brightness level or flashing SOS mode
-Built in rechargeable battery
-2 hours of charging in full sunlight powers hat for 2 to 18 hours, depending on brightness setting
-Maximum run time on full charge is 36 hours
-Fully sealed and waterproof
Ok, so I like to subscribe to the “better safe than sorry” motto when it comes to being prepared, for just about any situation. Which means that I’m usually carting around a crapload of stuff just in case something detrimental happens to my precious homeostasis. Now, you’d think that because I’m all about safety and preparedness, that I’d never have any issues, right? Wrong. While I’m all about having the right tools for those unexpected situations, I can be a little lax on checking up on their status. For example, I have a flashlight in my car’s glove compartment in case of an emergency a la roadside. While that’s a fantastic idea in theory, it doesn’t really help me to have the flashlight if the batteries are dead. Guess what happened the last time I whipped out that flashlight? Nada, because the batteries were so dead they were leaking crusty battery acid.
If I had instead opted for the Spotlight Torch (Firebox, $19.95) as my personal lighting savior, I would not have been disappointed. This flashlight sports a rechargeable battery so you can stash it in your car and never have to worry that it won’t perform. And don’t be thinking that you have to get some fancy smanchy battery charger to operate such a device, because that’s just not the case. Nope, this super bright 0.5 watt LED flashlight charges by plugging right into your car’s cigarette lighter. You read that right – it really is that simple. Available in four colors, each with a red glow charging indicator and the ability to withstand water submersion for up to 30 minutes, there really is no reason not to own this itty bitty lifesaver. Ok, “lifesaver” might be a little strong, but it sure is handy!
Wouldn’t it be nice if everything was as “set it and forget it” as this flashlight? I mean, all you really have to remember with this pocket-sized luminescent stick is to plug it into the cigarette lighter when you want to charge it. And that can’t be too hard, right? Hmm, probably best if you just leave it in there at all times.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.9cm x 2cm
-Weight: 45 grams
-120min/7 hour charge
-High output 0.5 watt LED light
-Rechargeable No-MH battery
-Fits most 12v car power outlets
-Red glow charging indicator
-Can withstand submersion in water for up to 30min
-All torches made of 6061 aircraft aluminum bodies
-Available in 4 colors: titanium, blue, red, and black
It certainly is a Monday today, isn’t it? It’s starting to get warmer outside, which makes it harder and harder to restrain yourself from boozing and lounging all weekend. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with hanging out with your buddies and some brews, but when an all weekend party seamlessly transitions into your Monday morning, you’ve got some issues. You can’t keep waking up ten minutes before you’re supposed to be at work, cursing your alarm for allowing you to sleep through its timid alerts for the umpteenth time. Seriously, you come into work late one more time and you’re bound to get fired. You better straighten up and fly right, if you know what I mean. But how…
All you need is the Clocky (Generate Design, $59.00) alarm clock and you’ll be right as rain. Another installment of irritating alarm clocks, this adorable piece of machinery will make you want to throw it against the wall – once you catch it. See, your alarm goes off and starts its usual beeping routine, but then this is where Clocky dares to be different. Clocky decides that he’s going to help you out and make sure that you actually get out of bed, no more of that “five more minutes” crap. And how does it ensure your undivided attention? He runs away from you and hides, that’s how. All the while, beeping up a storm and begging you to chase him, Clocky demands that you get out of bed at once. Sure, you can probably hit snooze when you catch up with him, but chances are you’ll be wide awake by the time that happens.
I know, I know, you probably think that you’re too old for a toy like this, that you can get to work on time just fine by yourself. But I think you should think about the last time you showed up to work in your red plaid onesie with greasy hair and obscenities written all over you face (courtesy of your beloved friends). All things that could have been avoided had you woken up at a reasonable hour and looked in the mirror before running out of the house. I’m just saying, it might be something worth looking into.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.5″ x 4″ x 4″
-Alarm beeps and then moves around when you try to turn it off
-Uses 4 AAA batteries (not included)
-Available in coco, chrome ($10 extra), aqua, and almond
-Free shipping to US and Canada
So say you’re going out for a night on the town, full of drinking and debauchery, that promises to be THE night of the year. How are you going to prepare for such a spectacle? I mean, most importantly, what are you going to wear? Sure, most guys can just throw on a t-shirt and some jeans, but all the ladies out there know that that’s just not going to cut it at the bar scene. Nope, you’ve got to find the perfect blend of casual, yet fashionable when getting dressed for such an evening. And what does that boil down to? A good pair of stilettos, naturally. Uncomfortable, yet stylish high heels are a party essential for all you trendy ladies out there. So just how are you supposed to survive a boozy night on stilts?
All you have to do is pack the Tipsy Feet (Drinkstuff, £19.95) in your clutch, and you’re good to go. See, someone has finally come up with the brilliant idea of supplying fashion conscious women with ballet flats as an alternative to toe squishing heels for the end of the night. I know, I know, ballet flats are old news. But what about the fact that these flats are packed up in a teeny tiny matching bag that you can stuff in your purse? That’s right, you can bring your extra pair of shoes to the bar with you, so when you’re ready to go at the end of the night, you can just pull them out of your purse and slip them on. But wait, what about your lovely high heels, what are you supposed to do with them? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered there too. The small bag that holds the flats unfolds to form a larger bag, suitable for carrying your heels (and perhaps even your purse). The shoes are available in black, silver, and gold, and each color comes in sizes small, medium, and large.
Come on, how awesome is this idea?! Finally, someone understands what it’s like to try to balance on four inch Jimmy Choos after you’ve had one Long Island Iced Tea too many. It’s just an accident waiting to happen. My only issue with these shoes is that they’re stated as being for emergencies only and not for day to day use. So when exactly do they run out of steam? I mean, a girl’s gotta be able to plan her weekend…
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Available in 3 sizes: small (size 3 to 4), medium (size 5 to 6), and large (size 7 to 8 )
-Available in 3 colors: black, silver, and gold
-Each pair of shoes comes in a small matching bag
-Small bag folds out into larger bag to carry high heels
-Shoes are not meant for emergencies, not day to day use
-Delivery not available in US and Canada
You know how you come home at the end of a long day at work, and you just throw your shit down about two steps from the door? And then at the end of the week, you end up having to clean up a week’s worth of jackets, hats, newspapers, etc. just so you can through the front door? I know you know that there’s a better system than that. I mean, who wants to clean up a week-long mess on a Friday night when instead they could be out partying and celebrating the weekend? The answer is no one (duh). So how do you prevent an apparel and accessory hostile takeover?
You need to get yourself the Wallter Slat Rack (Design Public, $145.00) before your possessions stage a coup. It may not look that fancy, but this powder coated steel rack is designed to hold much more than your outerwear. With its unique artistic motif, this rack has staggered vertical slots devised to hold everything from your jackets and hoodies to hats and umbrellas. You could even hang your keys on the end hook so that they’re right next to all your out the door essentials. What makes this rack so great is that it has a thin shelf behind the top slots so you can place items there as well. Which means that you can stash your morning paper there when you’re running out the door to work or you can stick your outgoing mail next to your keys so you’ll remember to put it in the mailbox the next time you go out. It’s available in brown, green, orange, and white so really the only choice you have to make is which color best fits your decor.
I think this rack is pretty funky looking, which makes me instantly love it. The thing I’m not so in love with? The price. I mean, who am I, Bill Gates? But everyone deserves a good splurge every once in a while, and I think this piece fits the bill. Besides, who really needs to eat anyways?
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 21″ x 16″ 2″
-Holds many different items at once
-Thin shelf behind top vertical rack
-Mounts 2″ from the wall
-Mounting hardware included
-Available in brown, green, orange, and white
-Made of powder coated steel
