I am super busy this week! Blame it on Irene, but it seems like everything I was planning on doing for the month of September has managed to squeeze itself into the upcoming week. Ok, so maybe it’s less the hurricane’s fault and more like time mismanagement, but I don’t think Irene will mind taking one for the team. In times of chaos, I find it helps to jot down a few notes about the tasks at hand. A to-do list, if you will.
To-do lists are great, if you can manage to keep track of them. I mean, what frazzled person hasn’t attempted organization only to lose the very thing holding it all together? To save yourself from this maddening frustration, why not just write your list on your morning cup of coffee? The Memo Mug (Perpetual Kid, $14.99) helps keep your notes with something you’ll be hard-pressed to misplace – your caffeine fix. One side of the mug is curved like a normal coffee cup, while the other is flat to allow for maximum writing space. The side of the mug even has a slot for the included pen so as long as you can keep a hand on your java, you won’t be without your notes or special writing utensil. Once you’re done with your list, wipe it off and your mug is back to square one.
Some of you might set down your coffee in the morning and then be unable to find it later, rendering this gadget totally useless to you. Not me, though. My coffee cup is glued to my hand until the last drop has been consumed. In fact, the only issue here is that I might guzzle up all that caffeinated goodness before I start in on my to-do list.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Capacity: 8oz
-Mug doubles as message board
-Includes pen
-Pen holder integrated into mug
-Wipe clean to start over
-Ceramic
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
I have a friend who is a serious watch collector. It doesn’t matter how many watches he already owns, he’s always on the lookout for something newer, something better to put on his wrist. I’m actually sort of surprised that he doesn’t have a whole “days of the week” situation going on with his watches (or maybe he does and I just don’t know about it).
If you want the latest and greatest in time-telling technology, then the Faceless Watch (Hammacher Schlemmer, $129.95) is a perfect match for you. What looks like an ordinary watch band is actually a digital watch with a built-in liquid crystal display. The display is made up of four disguised LCDs that can only be seen when the time is illuminated by pressing a button the side of the band. Once the button is pressed, the time can be seen in glowing red numbers, hours on top and minutes on bottom. The press of another button on the band allows the user to switch between time and date, with the month illuminated on top and the day on bottom.
Check out the look on your dad’s face when you give him this technological wonder for Father’s Day. He’ll be the coolest dad on the block!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Fits wrists up to 7.25 in circumference
-Liquid crystal display built into the band
-Four LCDs illuminate time
-Press button to illuminate time
-Press button to switch from time to date
-Stainless steel links
-Includes two additional 1/2″ W links
-Links to be adjusted by a professional
I’m pretty sure I have the tiniest bladder in the world. I must get up to go to the bathroom at least four or five times a night. The worst thing about getting up in the middle of the night, besides being ripped from your sleep and cozy bed, is that you have to stagger to the bathroom in complete darkness. Some people are lucky enough to have a bathroom right inside their bedroom, but even that won’t keep you from stubbing your toe or, worse yet, failing to notice a lifted toilet seat.
Who needs to turn on a light when you have the Glow in the Dark Loo Roll (Firebox, £4.12)? You can pee in obscurity by the glow of the toilet paper roll because it uses energy from a sufficient light source during the day to power itself at night. Now, I’m not saying it’ll be like you have a couple of floodlights in your bathroom, but it should be enough to make out the toilet bowl and any other immediate obstacles.
Great Scott!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9cm diameter
-Glows in the dark
-No batteries required
-Glows thru contact with sufficient light source during the day
-Illuminates immediate area only
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
