As summertime draws to a close, I’m reminded of all the fun times I’ve had these past few months. Naturally, none of these memories involve spending time outdoors because I hate going outside. I mean, if I don’t get out of this house soon, people might start thinking I’m agoraphobic. Seriously though, while enjoying everything nature has to offer isn’t really my thing, I like to think I have a good time just the same. Not spending a zillion hours outdoors really frees up my time to work on my various creative projects (also no sunburn, so that’s a plus). You’re gonna think I’m pretty lame (even more so than you already do), but I like to put together puzzles. That’s right, puzzles.
The problem with puzzles today is that even if the puzzle itself is challenging, the pictures are so lame. I mean, how many times can I put together a picture of snow covered trees or a cat hanging on a branch? Zip Code Puzzles (Firebox, $34.95) are a completely different story. Instead of regurgitating the same old photo options, these puzzles are made to order according to your personal choice of geographic location. Using an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey, a 400 piece puzzle is produced according to the zip code you provide. In the center of the puzzle is a house-shaped piece that represents the address location and the puzzle itself spans six miles east/west and four miles north/south of the center point. The map displays buildings, main roads, water features, and even some local establishments so that each puzzle is unique.
I don’t know who wouldn’t want to put together this puzzle. I would totally commit to putting every last piece of this puzzle together, glue it in place, and then frame it for display. That’s not weird, right?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.25″ x 18.5″ (assembled)
-400 piece jigsaw puzzle
-Features an extract from the U.S. Geological Survey
-Map covers 6 miles East/West and 4 miles North/South
-Center piece is shaped like a house
-Puzzle box includes personal message area
-Each puzzle made to order
-Non returnable except due to faulty manufacturing
Do you ever wonder what your pets do all day when you’re not there? I don’t. I mean, I don’t have to wonder because I’m pretty sure there’s a fair amount of sleeping going on, only to be interrupted by doing things they’re not supposed to do. I know this because I come home to paw prints on my countertops and napkins hit off the top of my refrigerator. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the reason why my cats are so tired when I get home is because they’ve been running around my house and exhibiting general tomfoolery in my absence. Still, it might be nice to have some hard evidence so that the next time I’m chastising my animals, I know exactly which one is to blame for the current state of disarray in my home.
The best way to find out what your pet’s been up to all day is to stick the Pets Eye View Camera (NerdSeven, $39.95) on their collar. Because this webcam-like device attaches to your pet’s collar, it records their daily activities from their own viewpoint. You can set the camera to shoot every one, five, or fifteen minutes and it can store up to 40 photos internally. So next time you want to know who’s responsible for chewing up your homework, Scruffy or Whiskers will have the photographic evidence to solve the case.
Personally, I’m not sure how well this will really work out. I mean, I bet my cats are sleeping all day. I would probably come home expecting to uncover some great mystery, only to find that Whiskers hasn’t moved from the couch all day. If I sound jealous, it’s because I am.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Resolution: 640 x 480
-Camera can shoot every 1, 5, or 15 minutes
-Stores 40 photos internally
-PC and Mac compatible
-Rechargeable Li ion battery included
-USB cable included
-Only use flat collars at least 3/8″ wide to prevent choking hazard
I have a friend who is obsessed with Legos to the point of ridiculousness. What once started as a deep appreciation for all things Lego has migrated in a serious one-on-one relationship with Star Wars merchandise, but the Lego aspect of the obsession persists. Did you know that Lego makes a $500 Star Wars set? I do because he owns it. Lego recently released a limited edition collection of blindboxed minifigures, so I decided to buy a set for my friend. He loved them. I have a sneaking suspicion that if it’s Lego, he’s interested.
So imagine my delight when I came across the Wireless Building Block Mouse (Perpetual Kid, $29.99). Not only is it a fully functional wireless computer mouse, but it’s shaped just like a Lego block! I mean, this has got to be the coolest computer mouse I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s not a whole lot of creativity happening when it comes to a computer mouse – you’ve pretty much got one design out there. Both PC and Mac compatible, this mouse features both right and left click buttons as well as a scroll wheel.
Ok, so I think this mouse is the shit, I really do. But my Lego friend brought up a good point: how comfortable is it to use? Sure, if you’re spending a little down time surfing the web or writing a paper, I’d say go for it. For work? No, definitely not. Could you imagine wrapping your hand around this textured rectangle for the whole day? Not exactly the most enticing idea, now is it?
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2.25″ x 1.25″
-Wireless mouse
-Features right and left click button as well as scroll wheel
-PC and Mac compatible
-Desktop and laptop compatible
-Optical 800 DPI
-Certified USB
-Available in red, blue, or white
-Requires 2 AAA batteries (not included)
I’m getting to that age where just about everyone I know is married or getting engaged. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with cohabitation and legal unification, but I’m running out of gift ideas for these people. You don’t want to be that guy who gets a toaster for every wedding, regardless of whether the couple even wants/needs it, just because you’re too lazy to get a little creative in the gift department. When selecting a gift for someone, the most important thing to remember is to know your audience. Is the recipient an artsy type? Do they live in a tiny apartment? Will they be so embarrassed by your lack of good taste that they’ll be forced to hide your gift in the closet, only to take it out when you come over? These are all very important questions to consider.
With those ideas in mind, the Stacking Drinking Glasses (Plasticland, $20.00) make a fantastic housewarming/engagement/wedding present. For starters, who couldn’t use a couple more glasses at their disposal? You always think you have enough, but glasses have a weird way of migrating throughout the house, not to be heard from for months. Those with storage-deficient kitchens will love this set of three glasses because they nest. Just like the Russian dolls printed on the side of each glass, these glasses fit together to save space. And don’t fret about hand-washing them because even though the glasses have cute colorful prints on the side, they’re dishwasher safe!
These glasses are so cute, I’m tempted to chuck my current ones and buy a bunch of these. Not only are they are they space saving, but they’re adorable. Can you say the same about your glassware? I didn’t think so.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Capacity: 8 oz, 10 oz, and 14 oz
-Set of 3 nesting glasses
-Features brightly colored babushkas on each glass
-Made of borosilicate glass
-Dishwasher safe
I’ve recently started redecorating my place, well, “redecorating” is probably an overstatement – more like decorating for the first time. I decided that I didn’t want to constantly look like I had just moved in and it seemed like a lot less effort than actually finishing unpacking and/or getting rid of the box mountain in my living room. One very simple (and you know I’m all about that) way to make your place look more lived-in is to rock some awesome decor. It can be as easy as hanging a painting on your wall or as difficult as doing some rewiring to install the new light you bought. Guess which one of these I’ll be talking about today…
That’s right, we’re going with the easy-peasy option and that means showing off some personal photos with a little help from the Crossword Puzzle Picture Frame (Plasticland, $15.00). You could just go out and buy some boring normal picture frame, hang it on your wall, and call it a day, but what would be the fun in that? Wouldn’t you rather invest in a photo frame that was not only awesome in itself, but also had an interactive element to it? Shaped like a crossword puzzle, not only does this frame house a photo of your choice, but you can also jot down notes about the picture using the included dry erase pen. Because the crossword puzzle is a dry erase surface, you can change the message as often as you like to correspond with the picture or your mood at that moment. And if you were thinking about giving this frame as a gift, you could even customize the frame to reflect the occasion.
This frame is also a good way to see if people are really paying attention to the things around them. Try writing a weekly trivia question on yours or perhaps something ridiculous about a friend right before they come over. Pretty soon, everyone will be wanting to come over to your place to check out your awesome crossword frame. You’re welcome.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10″ x 7.25″
-Holds one 4×6 photo
-Includes dry erase pen
-”A” frame stand in back
-Made of molded plastic
