I tried to convince myself that because it was summer, I wouldn’t drink as much coffee in the morning. I mean, it’s hella hot out so why would I want to start my day with a piping hot cup o’ joe? Turns out, my body needs coffee in order to be productive (who knew?) so heatwave or not, I need me some coffee to function.
Everybody takes their coffee differently and you can forget about someone else getting your coffee order right, especially if you work in a crowded office. The easiest way to make sure your morning brew is top notch is to use the Personalised Milk and Two Sugars Mug (Not On The High Street, £17.50). Specially made just for you, this mug explicitly states exactly how you want your hot beverage of choice assembled. The first step is of course adding your name to the mug so no one is confused as to whose mug it is (and it will surely cut down on mug theft amongst coworkers). Next, pick the hot beverage that gets your blood pumping from tea, coffee, or cocoa. Then it’s only a matter of specifying additives like milk and sugar. Heck, you can even state whether you want a cup of coffee so strong it peels the paint off the walls or so weak that it’s just a hot cup of amber-colored water.
In case you’re wondering, it’s coffee with one milk and one sugar. Strong.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9.5cm tall
-Personalized mug
-Specify:
-Name
-Hot drink (tea, coffee, cocoa)
-Milk (yes, no)
-Sugar (0-4)
-Strength (weak, strong, no strength)
-Hand printed
-Made of earthenware
-Dishwasher safe
Ever get ready for a long road trip and as soon as you get going, you realize that you forgot to charge your favorite electronic device? Whether it’s your phone, iPod, or DS, you’ve got to admit that it’s a huge bummer to spend the entire trip bored out of your mind without something to entertain yourself. I mean, sure you’ve packed your chargers, but what are you supposed to do now that you’re already on the road?
The Dual Mini USB Car Charger Adapter (Latest Buy, $17.95) may be small, but this device is sure to swoop in and save the day as far as your portable electronics are concerned. A compact charging adapter, this gadget fits perfectly into your car’s cigarette lighter to power up to two devices via USB ports. That’s right, not only can you charge your cell phone while driving, but it even has room for a second device! While I’m aware that some fancy-schmancy cars are equipped with two 12V sockets, you don’t have to be a Rockefeller anymore to enjoy the luxury of simultaneous cellular and musical chargage.
Yes, you can charge just about anything with a USB cord, but just make sure you keep an eye on the voltage capacity. Unless you want to blow a fuse and render your cigarette lighter useless, then I would totally plug in that George Foreman.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 0.003″ x 3.7″ x 4.7″
-Charges 2 USB devices at the same time
-iPod, iPhone, iPad, and other USB device compatible
-3.1 Amp output total
-2 outlets: 1×1 amp, 1×2.1 amp
-Output voltage: 5VDC
-Compact design for easy storage
Attention amateur cooks and master chefs: Wouldn’t you like a new and snazzy way to keep track of time while cooking? Then look no further than the Time Bomb Kitchen Timer (Plasticland, $13.00)! Shaped just like a bomb with a capital “BOOM,” this manual kitchen timer will tick tock the minutes away while you create a tasty dish. That’s not to say that you can’t use it outside of the kitchen to liven up other mundane tasks or even just leave it out as a conversation piece. Heck, you could even use it to play charades as long as your game doesn’t exceed 55 minutes (that would be one hell of a charades round). Don’t forget to fully wind the timer before each use though or else your creme brulee will just be a runny mess of custard instead of a mouthful of awesomeness.
Black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yeah. The boy’s a time bomb.
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4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 2.5″ x 2″
-Manual kitchen timer
-Keeps track of time up to 55 minutes
-Easy to wipe clean
-Made of plastic
Like most people I know, I work exclusively on my laptop. I mean, does anyone even buy desktop computers anymore? I kid, I kid – I know they do, but the majority of those consumers are either baby boomers or gamers. A laptop just makes more sense for the money because it’s lightweight and portable, making it perfect for travel. And if you’re a home office traditionalist, you can always hook yourself up with a banging wireless keyboard and mouse set to supplement your desktop needs. As much as I love my laptop, I hate its speakers. I have to turn them up full blast most of the time and even then the sound isn’t that great.
If you love your laptop but find yourself unwilling to compromise on good sound, then the Laptop Speaker Bar (ThinkGeek, $59.99) can help bridge the gap. With a simple clip-on design, this speaker bar attaches securely to the top of your laptop and is powered by your laptop’s USB port. There’s no annoying software to install either, just plug and play. The USB cable itself tucks neatly into the back of the speaker so your laptop isn’t overrun with a multitude of stray wires. Once plugged in, you can enjoy a wealth of sound emanating from this compact bar as it features a room-filling 360 degree sound. This speaker solution is perfect for travel (travel case included) or even just as an upgrade from your less than luxurious laptop speakers.
Fun fact: This speaker would also work swimmingly when watching movies on your laptop.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-360 sound from your laptop
-Includes speaker bar and travel case
-Plug and play via USB cable
-Clip on design holds speaker bar securely
-Fits most laptops and netbooks
-USB cable tucks neatly into back of speaker
-Compatible with Mac or PC; USB port required
There are some days when nothing seems to go right. Some days, it’s all you can do to just keep your cool and not freak out over the smallest detail that has gone awry. I like to think that on those types of days that I possess the necessary self-control to conduct myself in a professional manner. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the case.
When I feel like I can’t take it anymore, I reach for the Stress Beater (Perpetual Kid, $7.99). Instead of literally blowing a fuse at work and screaming about “burning this mother down,” I slowly squeeze my stress buster. I could use one of those dinky little stress balls, the kind that usually has a smiley face printed on the side, but that shit only makes me what to punch something more. And hey, what’s better for stress punching than a pair of squishy brass knuckles? You can live out your tough guy fantasies without actually harming anyone (trust me, your lawyer will thank you).
You show those TPS reports who’s boss.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 3″ x 0.5″
-Squeezable stress releaser
