Last night I heard the melodic sounds of the ice cream truck passing through the neighborhood. I was torn, because ice cream seemed like a really good idea right about then, but it was 10pm and just a little bit creepy for the ice cream man to be out that late. So I didn’t rush out to get a fudge pop or a King cone, choosing to instead pine away for an ice cold treat within the confines of my own home. It seemed like the safer choice, given the circumstances, but I was still left unsatisfied.
If I’d had the Ice Cream Maker (Perpetual Kid, $24.99) in my kitchen, I wouldn’t have spent the rest of the evening salivating over the thought of popsicles and ice cream cones. Instead, ingredients permitting, I could have sauntered into my kitchen and whipped up a batch of my own ice cream. Unlike the ice cream makers of old, this one doesn’t require you to inflict carpal tunnel syndrome on yourself whilst constantly churning its contents. With just the push of a button, you can create two different ice cream flavors in this maker. All you have to do is mix your ingredients (recipe book included), pour them into the maker, push a little button, and put the whole thing in the freezer. That’s it. Seriously.
I’m really trying to cut back on my kitchen gadgets (they’re starting to take over the place), so I have to wonder if this one is really worth it. I mean, will I really eat enough ice cream to justify the purchase? Seeing as my beverage intake skyrocketed once I got Keurig, I’m thinking it’s a fair bet to say I’ll be living off an ice cream diet.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ x 4″
-Includes ice cream maker and recipe book
-Recipe book includes sherbet, sorbet, and ice cream recipes
-Makes ice cream with the push of a button
-Make two different flavors at once
-Needs 4 AA batteries
-Made of plastic
I’m not terribly skilled at home repairs, but that hasn’t stopped me from finagling my way through a home improvement project. Most of the time it’s not a big deal because whatever I’m fixing is fairly benign to begin with. However, sometimes I start a project that seems fairly easy and quickly evolves into a huge, somewhat dangerous undertaking. I’m not saying that I’m gonna stop doing these little pet projects because, 1) it saves me money, and 2) I really should know how to fix things around the house without having to call my dad 24/7. One might argue it’s a matter of pride.
If you’re like me and you’re gonna put yourself in situations with the potential of bodily harm, you might want to invest in a pair of Dual LED Safety Glasses (ThinkGeek, $19.99). I’m not saying this is all you’ll need to protect yourself from injury, but it’s a good start. While they look like normal safety glasses (albeit a lot trendier than the ones you donned in shop class), they actually exceed the ANSI Z87+ high impact standards. Translation: safety just got safetier. In addition to being safer and considerably more fashionable than most safety glasses, this scratch-resistant pair is also outfitted with an LED light on each side of the frame. With 99.9% protection from harmful UV rays and an optically correct viewing area of 180 degrees, these glasses are sure to help you get any DIY job done without a trip to the emergency room.
The LEDs have a 48 hour battery run time, which has got to last as long as the job you’re doing. If not, it’s time to stop. Seriously, put down the hammer. Take a break. People don’t even play Wii for that long without stopping.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Safety glasses with fully adjustable/removable LED lights
-Includes glasses, carrying case, and breakaway cord
-180 optically correct viewing area
-Two LED lights
-99.9% UV protection
-48 hour battery run time
-Scratch resistant
-Exceeds high impact standards
-Uses two CR2032 batteries (included)
I’m doing my best to be more eco-friendly, but sometimes it gets a little frustrating because I don’t know what to do. I mean, I already do most of the things that people suggest as easy ways to reduce my carbon footprint, so where am I supposed to go from here? I was at the bank today and there was a commercial talking about how turning off the water while brushing your teeth saves 80 million gallons of water per day (figure may be slightly exaggerated). Great! Except I’ve been doing that for years. It’s like saying that you can lose weight with little to no effort if you just stop drinking soda – but I don’t drink soda, so what about me?
I already try to turn off extraneous lighting when it’s not in use, but one place I don’t like to skimp is on outdoor lighting. I hate coming home to a pitch dark house and not being able to see my path to the door, but I also hate killing the planet. Luckily, the Solar Lighted Walkway Tiles (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95) doesn’t make me choose between the two. Sold as a set of four tiles, each one features a solar panel protected by tempered glass. This solar panel powers four inlaid LEDs, which are rated for 20,000 hours of lighting. The tiles themselves are actually made of PVC, but designed to look like flatted hardwood so they’re 100% waterproof and won’t rot or fade. Because they interlock on any side, you can lay the modular tiles out in any pattern you wish, connected or otherwise.
So instead of leaving a light on all night because you don’t know when your son will be getting home from a friend’s house or if your husband is going to be working late, you can just put a few of these tiles out. Not to mention, your yard will look pretty snazzy and everybody will applaud your eco-activism. I don’t really see any downside here.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11″ sq x 1″ each
-Weight: 1.5 lbs
-Set of four tiles
-Modular tiles interlock on any side
-Solar panel protected by tempered glass
-Four inlaid LEDs on each tile
-LEDs are rated for 20,000 hours
-100% waterproof
-Made of PVC fashioned to look like slatted hardwood
It’s the middle of August and the days of summer are rapidly counting down. Soon, it’ll be a little bit cooler, the wind will whip a little faster, and the leaves will fall from the trees. That doesn’t sound too bad, especially considering the continuous heatwave we’ve been experiencing this whole summer, but autumn can’t last forever. You might think you’d appreciate a cold winter’s day accompanied by a light snowfall, but that’s just the heat talking. As soon as it gets colder, you’ll start wishing you can spent more time enjoying the great outdoors when you had the chance. How do I know? Because even I feel that way, and I’m anything but outdoorsy.
If you’re gonna take advantage of this beautiful weather, you’re probably gonna have to venture outside. In my opinion, the best way to spend some quality time with nature involves a patio chair, some adult beverages, and a good ole fashioned cookout. Your partner in crime on this quest? The Can Cooker (Amazon, $79.99). See, not all of us can host a BBQ at our place because we don’t have access to a grill, whether it’s a space issue or inadequate funds. This cooker uses a heat source (fire pit, campfire, etc) to slowly steam cook a meal to perfection, making it a delightful alternative to grilling. Not to mention, this cooker is incredibly easy to transport and requires virtually no set-up to use. You can feed up to 20 people at a time and each meal only takes about an hour to cook. Think of it as a “set it, and forget it” alternative to grilling. I mean, how many times have you hosted a backyard BBQ and you’ve missed out on half the fun because you’ve been chained to the grill the whole time, sweating away? The answer is too many.
They recently outlawed grills at my apartment complex, so I thought I would never again experience the joys of outdoor cooking. Lo and behold, I have found a solution! I mean, they didn’t say anything about fire pits, right?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.5″ x 11.8″ x 15.2″
-Weight: 5 lbs
-Easy to use
-Uses steam to cook
-Creates convenient meals in one hour
-Feeds up to 20 people
-Ideal for camping and tailgating
I’ve recently become quite the cooking savant. Well, to clarify, I’ve recently started making edible meals, and even that’s a bit of stretch. I am keen to learn though, which I think is the most important thing. While I love learning how to cook, if only because it helps me save money and for the immense satisfaction that comes with creating something delicious, I hate cleaning up afterward. Somehow, I manage to cover every inch of every surface in my kitchen with bits of food. It’s just as delightful as it sounds.
At least if I’m using the Elevate Kitchen Utensils (Generate Design, $49.00), I can be sure that my cooking tools aren’t being covered in last week’s taco residue. Yes, this six-piece set is nauseatingly cute with its rainbow-colored handles, but that’s not what makes it great. Ok, that’s not the main thing that makes it great. With a weighted handle and an integrated tool rest, each of these tools is designed to sit above the surface when placed down. Meaning, you can set that spoon on the counter for two seconds without having to worry if germs are contaminating it before you pick it up again to stir the spaghetti sauce. Heat resistant and dishwasher safe, each piece features a hanger hole so you can even make them a work of art on your wall.
If you’re scoffing at the thought of kitchenware as art, let me just mention that I have cake pans hanging on my kitchen wall. Yeah, it’s mainly because they won’t fit in my cabinet, but who wouldn’t want to display a TMNT cake pan, circa 1989? I rest my case.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: approximately 11.8″ x 3.5″ x 2.4″ (each utensil)
-Set of 6 includes solid spoon, slotted spoon, flexible turner, slotted turner, ladle, and spaghetti server
-Weighted handle and integrated tool rest
-Heat resistant up to 240C/480F
-Hanger hole for convenient storage
-Boxed gift set
-Dishwasher safe
-Made of polypropylene
