I wouldn’t say that I like getting up early, but it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as other people I know. When my alarm sounds, I immediately turn it off and get out of bed. I didn’t even know how to use the snooze button until a few years ago – true story. Once I’m out of bed, everything else is gravy – all it takes for me to get up is to literally get up. To say this is not true for some people is a clear understatement. If someone tells you that they’re not a morning person, believe them. Your life depends on it.
If there’s any doubt in your mind about your roommate’s temperament, the Mood Mug (Generate Design, $25.00) will clear it up. There are four possible designs available, each depicting a different mood so everyone you encounter will know exactly how you’re feeling without any words exchanged. It doesn’t matter if you’re happy, moody, sleepy, or even hungover – your mug will say it all. Besides the benefit of less morning chatter, these mugs save space by forgoing handles in favor of double wall insulation. Cool to the touch, your coffee/tea stays hotter longer with no pesky handle to slow you down!
Just remember: Sip slowly, lest you burn your entire mouth.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.75″ x 2.95″
-Capacity: 7 fl oz
-Handleless mug reflects mood
-Double wall insulation
-Space saving
-Available in Happy Larry, Seriously Sleepy, Monstrously Moody, and Horribly Hungover
-Dishwasher safe
-Do not microwave
-Made of Grade A food safe porcelain
Fire safety is no joke. The best method to keep you and your loved ones safe is prevention. Making sure your house has the necessary safety measures in place, such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, is pretty easy to do. I mean, WWStBD (What Would Smokey the Bear Do)?
If you’re going to invest in a safety precaution, why not at least make it enjoyable a la the Chick-a-Dee Smoke Detector (Generate Design, $79.00)? You could go for a boring old smoke detector, but this one is both functional and cute (another two-fer!). This bird-shaped gadget acts just like a standard smoke detector in that it will emit a sustained 85 decibel sound when smoke it detected. However, it differs in that it also replicates a chick-a-dee-dee call when a threat is first detected, making it a lot more pleasant during those all too often false alarms due to intense cooking experiments. With the bird perched on a branch, you can either mount the bird directly to the ceiling or use the branch itself as a mounting system for a more authentic look.
Also known as the Rockin’ Robin’s cousin.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 7″ x 7″ x 4.75″
-Creative smoke detector
-Bird call at first sign of threat
-Sustained 85 decibel sound at smoke detection
-Control light flashes once a minute
-Battery included (1.5 year lifetime)
-Available in white and white/black
-3 year warranty
I’m all about trying to help out the environment because even though the world probably won’t end this year, global warming is totes here and with impressive force to boot. Don’t believe me? Why don’t you take a walk outside today and enjoy the 70+ degree weather on the first day of SPRING. To quote a friend, it is “lutes redic” how warm it is.
There are numerous ways to cut down on your consumption (many of which we’ve talked about here), but the biggest one is simply to stop using all things disposable. Just think of my how many trees you use every year because you don’t want to wash a dish! The Light Up Neon Blackboard (Things You Never Knew Existed, $19.98) eliminates at least some of your paper waste by functioning as a reusable dry erase board. Not only can you write messages to your heart’s content without worrying about your environmental footprint, you can make them light up! That’s right, this portable blackboard comes equipped with an illuminating marker that will make your messages visible in both the light and dark. It also promotes maximum portability through the use of an integrated leg stand and battery-powered technology.
I know it’s a bit early, but how awesome would this be for a Halloween party?!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ x 5″ x 0.5″
-Mini portable neon blackboard
-Includes 1 illuminating marker
-Built in leg stand
-Messages visible in light and dark
-Wipes clean
-Uses 3 AA batteries (not included)
A lot of people like to romanticize starting a family, but let’s get real here – it’s not all fun and games. Perhaps the most serious impact children will have on your life is a severe lack of sleep. It’s not their fault; they need constant attention and they can’t tell time. If you’re waiting for your child’s attention seeking to wane, then you’ll be waiting forever. At least you can do something about their knowledge of time telling.
While your baby girl might not know exactly which predawn hour it is, the Multimedia Photo Clock (SkyMall, $89.99) will at least let her know that it’s too early to wake Mommy and Daddy. The key here is a clock that displays both the digital time as well as a photo representation of day or night. Using this combination, you can teach your children when it is time to get up and when it is time to go to bed simply by looking at the picture next to their bed. If you’re not down with the pre-programmed sun and night images, you can always upload your own teaching images. The clock itself is not only a fully functional alarm clock and digital photo frame, but also a music/audiobook/video player.
This still doesn’t mean you’ll get to sleep in – that’s a luxury of the past.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.5″ x 6″ x 1″
-Teach children when to get up/go to bed
-Pre programmed awake/sleep images
-Can also be photo personalized
-Alarm clock
-Music/audiobook/video player
-Digital photo frame
-Available in Blue Peace, Green Numbers, Pink Peace, Pink Stars, or White
-Ages 2 to 8
-2011 Award Winner from Parent Tested Parent Approved
I’ve never been much of a napper. I’m one of those people that has a hard enough time trying to get to sleep at night, let alone for only an hour or two in the middle of the day. It’s not to say that I haven’t tried. Oh, how I’ve tried! I usually just end up laying there, thinking about all the other things I should probably be doing instead of attempting this fruitless nap. I’ll admit, it’s somewhat of a self-defeating strategy.
I think the biggest problem I have when it comes to napping is that I’m so focused on how long I have to sleep that I can’t clear my mind. The Napper (Amazon, $14.99) understands the stresses of everyday life and the need to take a relaxing snooze. Well, at least the person who created this charming alarm clock understands that because they’ve added a delightful feature to the traditional alarm: preset snooze buttons! Instead of having to hit the snooze button over and over or reset your perpetual alarm, simply hit the snooze time of your choice. You can choose from 15, 30, or even 60 minutes of uninterrupted snooze time by barely lifting a finger.
You know that expression, “You snooze, you lose?” Well, I think it should be, “You snooze, you win.”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Preset snooze timers
-Includes time and standard alarm clock settings
-Snooze for 15, 30, or 60 minutes
