As much as I love to cook, I don’t do it all the time. I’m not gonna lie, it’s mostly because I’m lazy. Sure, I could cook a new meal every night of the week, but wouldn’t it just be easier to make one big meal and then eat leftovers for a few days? Besides, cooking for one is hard and it would just be economically irresponsible to waste all that money on food that’ll be thrown away because I didn’t eat all of it. In a way, I’m doing my part to save the environment.
The one problem with being a slave to the microwave is that you’re prone to touching scalding hot dishware while your food remains ice cold. The Cool Touch Microwave Bowl (Vat19, $9.95) not only even heats your food, but also keeps you from burning yourself when you remove the dish from the microwave. How does it do it? Simple – by using two bowls nested within each other! The inner ceramic bowl heats up to cook your food while the outer plastic bowl is insulated to be cool to the touch. The outer bowl also has a large handle on one side to allow you to hold it with one hand so you can eat with the other. That’s right, not only will you be able to easily heat your leftovers (saving the environment, remember), but you can also eat right out of the same bowl which means less dishes to wash, less water to use, and then we’re right back at saving the planet.
All my other dishes have inferiority complexes now.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.5″ diameter x 3.25″
-Capacity: 24oz
-Cook and eat from the same bowl
-Two bowls nestled for cool touch
-Inner ceramic bowl heats food evenly
-Outer insulated plastic bowl
-Large handle for one handed grip
-Vented lid prevents microwave splatters
-Made of ceramic and plastic
-Top rack dishwasher safe
I almost hit my neighbor with my car yesterday. No joke. He was standing in the middle of the road sometime after dark and I didn’t see him until I was about to drive over him. While I managed not to hit him (this time), it would probably be in his best interest to wear some sort of reflective clothing or a light of some sort if he insists on meandering around in the dark. I mean, it’s not like he was loitering; he was out walking his dog, but it’s not exactly safe, you know?
Maybe he was too embarrassed to rock a reflective road work vest, and frankly I don’t blame him, but he’s got to do something. The Light Up Dog Leash (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $15.95) could be beneficial to him, his dog, and my car. Instead of walking your dog in the pitch black darkness of 3am, why not cast a little light so people know you’re out there? I’m not saying you need to light yourself up like a Christmas tree – not only would that be extremely irritating for your neighbors, but where would you plug yourself in? This leash gives uses a bright red LED light, with both flash and glow modes, to give off enough light so you’re visible from up to 1,000 feet away in the dark. It’s weather resistant, so even when Woofy needs to go in the middle of a thunderstorm, it’ll still provide you with a safety light.
Hey, even if you don’t have a dog you could still rock this leash. Sure, you’ll look crazy, but at least you’ll be safe, right?
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5′ long (glowing polymer extends 18″ from switch)
-Visible up to 1000 feet in the dark
-Bright red LED with flash or glow modes
-Strong rotating spring clip
-Weather resistant with enclosed switch
-150 hour replaceable battery (included)
-Made of flexible polymer surrounded by strong nylon webbing
Is it Tea Time yet? Seriously, there’s no better way to take a break from the day than with a nice cup of tea and perhaps a few biscuits (cookies, for you Yanks). I’m a big coffee drinker in the morning, mostly because I need a caffeine boost to function, but I like to make the switch to tea sometime in the afternoon. It’s a nice pick-me-up without the overwhelming caffeine buzz of a cup of joe. And since there’s so many different types of tea and then even more flavor subsets, it’s virtually impossible to be get tired of it.
The thing that sucks about tea is the tea bag. Sure, you could go the loose tea bagless route, but that’s a lot of scuffle for just one person (if you’re having an actual Tea Time, then I would totally go bagless). That being said, I usually buy tea bags because they’re pretty cheap and incredibly convenient. However, the one issue I have with tea bags is that I end up using all my spoons in record time because I’m adding a touch of honey or even just scooping the tea bag out of my mug. The Tea Tool (Gizoo, £3.95) is an ingenious gadget that allows you to squeeze and remove a tea bag from your mug with very little effort. Perhaps most importantly, you won’t have to use a spoon or risk burning your fingers on a scalding hot tea bag because this tool does the work for you. Depress the plunger to open the device and put your tea bag inside. Put the tool inside a mug full of hot water and let it steep. When you’re ready to take it out, simply remove the tool from the mug and depress the plunger (preferably while standing over a trash can) to free the tea bag. Viola!
Please don’t try to use this product with loose tea – it’s not going to work. In fact, it will be fail miserably. True story.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 18.5cm long
-Teabag is fully squeezed
-No mess or burnt fingers
-Compatible with all types of teabag
-Easy to use
-Dishwasher safe
I’m a big note writer. Basically, if I don’t write it down, then it’s probably not gonna get done. The only problem with all this list making (besides the control freak aspect of it) is that it means you’re constantly surrounded by little scraps of paper. It can get to be a bit much.
Instead of jotting down yet another note, why not record one? The Echo-Bot Voice Messenger (Nerd Seven, $14.95) lets you record up to 10 seconds of sound at a time, which is the perfect length for a quick reminder. In case you’re concerned that the batteries on this little guy will be drained in a day, you should know that the message is only played back when the device detects movement. That’s right, it’s motion-sensitive. And since it has three suction cup legs, you can pretty much secure this device anywhere and to anything. So if you want to make sure that your roommate remembers to feed the dog while you’re at dinner with your parents, just stick this guy to the table by the door and it’ll greet him with your message as soon as he walks in the door.
The only problem I have with this guy recording a mere 10 seconds of sound is that I’ll have to form a cohesive thought in that short amount of time. In case you haven’t noticed, I tend to be a bit of a rambler, which usually isn’t a problem but sometimes I just get in the zone and keep going on and on about something so incredibly trivial that I completely forget what I was even talking about in the first place. You know?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.5cm x 8.5cm x 5cm
-Record up to 10 seconds of sound
-Playback occurs when movement is detected
-3 suction cup legs to secure device anywhere
-Available in pink or orange
-Uses two replaceable button cell batteries (included)
-Recommended for ages 8 and up
Everyone has their faults, their own personal Kryptonite if you will. Mine is the inability to walk around like a normal person without running into everything, aka being an enormous klutz. A friend of mine is afflicted with a different but equally debilitating affliction: he’s a mess. Seriously, he cannot seem to go anywhere without getting something on his clothes, whether it be food, grease, or even glue. If you don’t think this is a serious issue, just imagine what the clothes in his closet look like after a few days. It’s a like the “before” shot for an industrial cleanser infomercial.
It’s not like my friend doesn’t try to use a napkin, but it just doesn’t seem to do the job. Enter the Adult Bib with Moisture Barrier (Taylor Gifts, $9.98). Finally, a product that not only understands that some people are doomed to spend their life in a constant state of spillage, but has decided to step in and offer a solution. Made of terry cloth, this bib has a large moisture barrier that is designed to keep you and your clothing dry, even if/when you dump your coffee all over yourself (see photo).
Yes, you could take your chances with a napkin, but let me ask you – how well has that worked out for you in the past? ‘Nuff said.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 30″ x 18″
-Moisture barrier measuring 17″ x 20″
-Hook and loop closure
-Made of terry cloth
