I am a big fan of birthdays. It’s kind of hard not to be when you’re younger because there are lots of presents and cake and parties, but that sort of falls off a bit as you get older. Then it’s just another year that’s passed – if you’re lucky, you might go out for a nice dinner or something, but that’s about it. How lame is that? I think adults need to inject a little more fun into their birthday celebrations.
Get ready to revert back to childhood with the Birthday Cake Candleabra Topper (Plasticland, $10.00). This cake topper replaces traditional candles with a three-dimensional plastic candleabra that adds a little class to your birthday. So you can be a kid without feeling too immature. It’s the best of both worlds!
The best birthday cake? Hands down, funfetti cake. But don’t even get me started on the terribleness that is funfetti frosting. Disgusting!
4 out of 5 stars.
.
.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5″ x 5″
-Fancy alternative to traditional candles
-4″ without candles; 7″ with candles
-3 dimensional
-Candles included
-Made of plastic
Do you fancy yourself a world traveler? If so, do you have the evidence to prove it? Sure, a few photos here and there are nice, but you probably don’t want to drag those mementos out every time you tell the tales of your adventures. What you really need is a solid way to keep track of your travels.
The My Scratch Map (Firebox UK, £14.99) is a complete map of the world that allows you to scratch off the countries you’ve visited like some sort of travel lottery ticket. The prize? Bragging rights. You can easily keep track of all the places you’ve been and formulate future travels. It comes with a protective storage tube, but if I were you I’d proudly display it right over the mantle.
The United States isn’t broken down state by state (it’s only countries, remember), but you could always take a guess as to where the states you visited are and scratch accordingly. Good luck with those middle states!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 53cm x 89cm
-Scratch off countries that you’ve visited
-Supplied in protective tube
-For ages 8 and up
There’s almost nothing in this world better than convenience – well, winning the lottery is up there too (unless it’s Shirley Jackson’s lottery), but I’m being realistic here. I hate it when I need an item and I can’t find it, and then I end up tripping over it when I don’t need it anymore. The worst offender of this notion is the flashlight. I can’t ever find it when I need it and then if I do, the batteries are dead or the damn thing just doesn’t work.
Making it the easiest flashlight you’ll ever use (and it’s not like the original model is all that hard) Battery Snaps (Perpetual Kid, $4.99) are ultra-portable and super convenient. All you need to let there be light is the snap top and a 9 volt battery, then press the top button and you’ve got a hand held light that can fit in your pocket. You’ll never forget what type of battery this flashlight takes (it’s pretty obvious) and the product itself is basically idiot-proof.
Snap to it!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.25″ x .75″ x 3″
-Includes battery snap and one 9 volt battery
-Press button on top to turn on light
-Available in white or pink
I’m gonna cut right to the chase here: riding a bike, while enjoyable, can be downright dangerous. You’re supposed to ride with traffic, but half the time cars pretend like they can’t see you and practically run you over every chance they get. With these Bike Signals (Gizoo, £29.95), there’s no way automotive traffic can argue that you’re not obeying the laws of the road. It’s a wireless device that attaches to your back (via the provided strap) and is controlled by a remote you can attach to your handlebars. If you want to turn left, simply press the left button on the remote and the LED arrow display will be illuminated. Ditto for turning right. The device even has a reminder beep to let your know if you’re left your blinker on. Best of all, the whole shebang is waterproof so you can be out and about in any type of weather and your signal system will remain intact.
The beautiful weather has returned! Go ahead, take out your 10-speed and get biking!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Includes LED display, remote (battery included), and strap
-Super bright LED when turning left or right
-Stay visible when on your bike
-Completely wireless
-Reminder beep
-Waterproof
How’d you like that beautiful weather we had on Monday? Wasn’t it just like living in a tropical oasis? Well, if living in a tropical oasis meant waking up to cold, rainy weather the day after paradise, then yes, it was almost exactly the same.
When the warm weather finally comes back around, you’ll want to be prepared. The Sandless Beach Mat (Hammacher Schlemmer, $69.95) is the epitome of beach luxury. I mean, what’s the worst part about the beach? Hands down, it’s got to be when you get out of the water and go to lay back down on your towel because your moist body is immediately covered in hundreds of thousands of tiny sand crystals. There’s no way to avoid this – you can’t stop the cool breeze from gently blowing the sand to and fro. Fortunately, that’s no longer an issue with this beach mat. Using military technology, this patented woven polyurethane mat is designed with a one-way filter that not only causes sand to instantly sift through it but also prevents sand from reemerging via the base. In other words if a gust of wind blows a sprinkle of sand your way, it’ll be gone in mere moments. If you’re not a beach bum, you can always use the mat for camping or picnics because the filter eliminates dirt, dust, and water from its surface as well.
Finally, the government does something right!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 64″ sq.
-Includes beach mat and travel bag
-Keeps sand off you when at the beach
-Filters sand to the beach as soon as it hits its surface
-Filter prevents sand from reemerging through bottom of mat
-Eliminates dirt, dust, and water from its surface
-Bound edges remain flat
-Anti moisture prevents mold and mildew
-Metal D rings in each corner to accommodate ground stakes (not included)
-Made of patented woven polyurethane
