Are you ever in the car thinking, “Gee, I’d love a cup of coffee right now” but there’s not a Starbucks in sight? Probably not because Starbucks is everywhere, but it would still be nice to be able to have a piping hot cup o’ joe whenever, wherever you wanted.
Although I’m not sure about the safety issues here, I’m still totally down with the Car Kettle (Latest Buy, $17.95) because it is the epitome of mobile brewing. Yes, there are a plethora of coffee shops, but why pay a bundle for one cup of java when you could make four cups yourself? This electric kettle plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and takes just a little bit longer than your standard tea kettle to heat up a pot of hot water. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can also use this baby to make tea or even soup! The set includes two cups and a strainer (for coffee grounds or loose tea) so you can even use this kettle to entertain via automobile.
Please please please don’t kettle and drive – it’ll be just like when that woman spilled McDonald’s coffee in her lap except you’ll have no one to sue but yourself.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 10″ x 3.7″ x 3.7″
- -Make hot beverages in your car
- -Includes kettle, 2 cups, strainer, and mounting bracket
- -Plugs into cigarette lighter
- -12V DC suitable for automotive application
- -Makes 4 cups (up to 550ml of water)
- -Ideal for hot water, instant coffee, tea, or soup

I can never make up my mind. If I’m trying to choose between two things, it never fails that as soon as I decide on one thing that I’ll immediately wish I chose the other. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who suffers from this affliction. The obvious solution is to make sure that the choices you make can easily be changed later. Tattoos are a definite no.
Now, I know that a comforter isn’t exactly a life choice, but they can be expensive so it’s probably best to think this one over before you lay your money out on something you’ll hate six month later. The smart option is to get a generic comforter and dress it up with a duvet cover – bonus points if you choose the Doodle Duvet Cover (Not On The High Street, £45.00 – £70.00). Not only will this duvet cover allow you to alter the look of your current comforter, but you can further alter the look of the duvet cover itself! The duvet cover has a note paper design, complete with red margins and hole punches so it’ll feel just like doodling in class. Using the included doodle pens, you can draw on the duvet cover until your heart is content because it’ll all come out in the wash. Like your design? No prob, just don’t wash it for awhile. Mess up your drawing? Throw it in the washer and it’ll come out good as new.
You can write the great novel without even having to get out of bed!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 140cm x 200cm (single); 200cm x 200cm (double)
- -Semi permanent doodle blanket
- -Looks like notebook paper
- -Includes 8 wash out doodle pens
- -Designs stay until washed out

I like to think of myself as something of a music connoisseur and as such I’m constantly turning my friends onto new tuneage. The easiest way to get someone to like a new song or band is obviously to play it for them, but that’s not always possible. I usually have my iPod on me, but I don’t want my friends sticking my earbuds in their ears (no offense). I have a headphone jack splitter, but that only really works if my friend has headphones on them. Also, if you have more than one friend (go you!), then that’s not going to work either.
There are a lot of portable speaker options out there and I can assure you that most of them are absolute crap. If you’re a professional music appreciator such as myself, then you need the Tembo Trunks (Generate Design, $39.00). Sold as a two pack, these silicone wonders amplify your musical selections up to 80 decibels – that’s three times louder! With no electronic components or moving parts (that also means no batteries), you’re probably wondering how these things work. All you need is your earbuds. No joke, that’s it. Just put each earbud in its respective earbud holder located in the back of each speaker and press play. Because you’re basically just using your iPod to power everything, your battery will actually last longer than one song. There’s so many awesome things about these speakers, it borders on insanity.
Do you think elephants helped design this technology?
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 6.5″ x 6.5″ x 2″
- -Amplify music up to 80dB
- -Music is 3x louder
- -Compatible with iPods of all generations
- -Apple earbuds recommended
- -No parts or electronic components
- -No batteries required
- -Waterproof
- -Shockproof
- -Stackable
- -Available in ruby, green, blue, grey, or white
- -Made of high grade silicone rubber

When it comes to pie, I have trouble saying no. For example, this past Thanksgiving I ate large quantities of mostly starchy foods and just about stuffed myself more than the turkey. A few hours later, I was presented with no less than four different types of pie. How many slices did I have? Three. That might not seem like a lot, but consider the massive meal eaten barely two hours prior as well as the fact that I also attended another Thanksgiving earlier in the week. Pie is my kryptonite.
What’s better than choosing from a multitude of pies? Choosing from a multitude of mini pies! The Personal Pie Factory (ThinkGeek, $26.00) allows you to make four different types of pie at one time with little to no effort! No one ever eats a whole pie because there are usually so many different choices that it’s hard to pick just one. If you had mini pie selections instead, you wouldn’t be wasting any food because it would be exactly the right amount of dessert. This contraption magically cooks four pies in less than 10 minutes, transforming raw dough into bakery perfection. And cleanup is mega easy because the entire cooking surface is coated with nonstick awesomeness.
You do have to provide your own dough and filling. I know, you might as well BUY a pie then.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 5.9″ x 9.3″ x 11″
- -Makes 4 mini pies in under 10 minutes
- -Nonstick surface
- -Easy removal and cleanup
- -Dough and filling not included

Have I mentioned how klutzy I am? I’m sure I have, but in case you forgot here’s a refresher: I run into everything ALL THE TIME. My arms and legs are covered in so many bruises you’d think I was a cage fighter in The Octagon. As if that’s not painful enough, I also usually manage to mangle quite a few of my belongings on a regular basis just by existing. Nevermind the physical turmoil this is causing, but it’s getting pretty expensive replacing my gadgets and such.
Smaller items are most likely to meet their end as a result of my clumsy ways, so what I really need is something savvy like the Vintage Fold Up Wayfarer Sunglasses (Krudmart, $15.00). These sunglasses are ready for you to accidentally slam into a wall with them folded up in your pocket. See, it’s the folding that protects them from damage, unlike a traditional pair of sunglasses that would crumble into a million pieces of you looked at it wrong. I’m not saying that these things are indestructible, but they do have a leg up on the competition. I mean, they were manufactured in the 80s and 90s – what else would you expect?
Don’t try this with the sunglasses you already own. I promise, it will end badly.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Foldable sunglasses
- -Produced in 80s and 90s
