Who has time to hang a picture these days? Furthermore, who wants to go through the effort of finding a stud, straightening the frame, and then just having to spackle over the hole in the wall before you move? I’ll bet you didn’t know it was so hard to hang a picture.
Why put yourself through all that when you can tape your photos to the wall instead? No, I don’t mean the super lame scotch tape way, I’m referring to the Frame It! Picture Frame Tape Kit (Perpetual Kid, $12.99). This fancy looking roll of tape allows you to create any size picture frame you need and stick it to almost any surface. No holes in the wall and minimal effort required? Sign me up! The kit even comes with four golden steel picture hangers so if you don’t want to put the tape directly on your artwork or you simply yearn for tiny holes in your walls, you’re covered.
The one thing I don’t understand is how you make such perfect corners with the tape, like in the photo to the left. I’m pretty sure I’m not talented enough in the ways of tape formation to make that happen.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 2″ x 1296″
-Includes roll of tape and 4 golden steel picture hangers
-Instantly frame anything
The first thing I look for when scoping out a place to live in the number and placement of outlets. For some reason, contractors don’t think these aspects are important and do things like put one outlet in the living room, but seven in a tiny kitchen (all right above the counter top). Since I can’t make outlets appear out of thin air right where I want them (if only!), I have to make do with what I have which pretty much means a lot of messy extension cords all over the place. Or…
…you could use one totally awesome extension cord instead, like the Pivot Power Surge Protector (Vat19, $29.99). Not just an extension cord but also a surge protector, this gadget protects your favorite electronics from getting fried during a storm or other electrical interruption with 672 joules of surge protection. Six outlets independently rotate along the power strip to easily fit around furniture and other objects and the plug itself sits nearly flush with the wall to make it compatible with just about every living/work space. And if your outlet is as far away from its desired electronic device as mine is, don’t fret because the cord on this thing is six feet long!
Just as it’s never a good idea to plug extension cords into one another, it’s also inadvisable to plug one surge protector into another. In this case two is not better than one, it’s a fire hazard.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 17.25″ x 2.25″ x 1.75″ (straightened)
-6′ cord
-Pivots around furniture
-6 outlets independently rotate
-672 joules of surge protection
-Plug sits nearly flush with wall
-Available in white or black
-ETL listed
Lawn work blows. Not only is it unpleasant, but it’s usually so long and tedious that you have to save it for one of your days off. Seriously, who wants to spend their day off from work doing more work? One thing I’ve completely given up on is raking leaves. It takes forever and you’re constantly bending over to rake and shovel up the leaves – basically, you spend entire the day trying not to throw out your back. And who are leaves harming anyways? Nobody.
If you’re one of those neat freaks that simply can’t let the leaves fall where they may, then the Amazing Rake (Taylor Gifts, $39.98) is gonna hook you up with a super simple way to clean up your yard. With a normal rake, you have to slowly gather leaves into a pile and then try to shovel them up, snow style. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Leaves are not snow. Leaves blow in multiple directions at the slightest gust of wind. This rake features a grabbing mechanism that allows you to rake, grab, and lift leaves in one smooth motion. Best of all, you don’t have to keep bending down to pick up the leaves. Finally, a rake for the lazy!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to actually do the lawn work yourself. That’s what landscapers are for.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 54″ x 17″ x 9″
-Rake, grip, lift, and bag in one motion
-Prevents back pain
-Keeps hands clean
-Made of copolymer
I love Halloween. In fact, it’s my favorite holiday. Some people are all about Christmas, but I think the novelty of the man with the bag wears off after you hit puberty whereas Halloween only gets better with age. When you’re young, you dress up to trick or treat and get candy; when you’re older, you dress up to drink adult beverages and win costume contests. Also, when you’re older you can afford to buy any candy you want so you don’t have to pick through all the cheapo stuff like circus peanuts to get to the real chocolatey treasures.
To maximize your Halloween’s success potential, it’s most important to have a totally boss costume. Second, you should decorate with such gusto that it looks as though Party City threw up all over your house. You can go scary or simply festive, but the 8-Bit LED Jack O’ Lantern (ThinkGeek, $9.99) works well with both motifs. A perfect pumpkin decoration, this one will last throughout the years because it’s made of durable EVA foam and is powered by AAA batteries. It’s lightweight and since there’s no cord, it can be hung just about anywhere. The LED lights flicker to mimic the look of an actual carved pumpkin, albeit carved much more precisely than you or I could probably manage. Basically, it’s the Christmas wreath of Halloween decor.
Remember, store bought costumes are the pits. Make it yourself!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11″ x 9.25″ x 1.125″
-Flickering LED lights
-Mimics carved pumpkin
-Requires 3 AAA batteries (not included)
-Made of durable EVA foam
It seems like I always need to look up just one more thing on my computer and most of the time, I think it’ll be a lot quicker if I don’t bother to turn on the light. That would be fine if I could actually type in the dark with any degree of accuracy, but I can’t. This doesn’t deter me though, as I will continue to misspell each word that I’m trying to type at least twice.
Wouldn’t it be so much easier to just turn on a light? Yup. Am I going to do it? Nope. That’s what the Mantis Multi-Purpose LED Light (Latest Buy, $35.95) is for. Yes, I know that it’s technically a light but it’s not an overhead light so it doesn’t count in my book. This clip-on light features 11 LED lights that can provide up to 30 hours of majestic glow for your keyboard. Also boasting two flip-out legs with rubberized end pieces to prevent slipping, the light can stand up to be used on just about any flat surface. Did you want to read a book whilst traveling without disturbing your neighbor’s sleep cycle? It’s not a problem because this portable light is battery operated for your convenience.
Yet another magical product for the lazy generation. Amen.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Clip on task lamp brightens workspace
-11 LEDs provide illumination
-Approximately 30 hours of light
-2 levels of brightness
-Clip allows light to rotate
-Rubberized end pieces prevent slipping
-Battery operated
-Portable
-2 flip out legs
