I’m one of those people who think clutter is the devil incarnate. It’s something I just can’t get past, no matter how hard I try. It gets underneath my skin and makes me so crazy that I have trouble forming simple sentences because I simply cannot think straight. Clutter is tricky though – a little mess is fine, but it can so easily turn into a giant mound of clutter seemingly right before your eyes. And then it’s too late.
A small table by the door seems like the perfect solution to reduce clutter because you can put down all your important items as soon as you get home and you’ll know exactly where to find them, right? It’s a great plan, but as with all best laid plans it has its drawbacks. The bigger the space, the more clutter that can accumulate. What you really need is something like the Switch Hooks Storage Switch Plate (Vat19, $5.99) because it only has room for the necessities. The switch plate trades places with your standard one and offers three small hooks along the bottom. You can use these hooks for keys, pet leash, or even a light jacket. The whole structure can support up to five pounds, so as long as you don’t go over that you can hang anything you like. Three hooks: no more, no less!
Right now, I can only see half my desk because it’s covered in post-its, mail, and other office items. When it gets three-fourths covered, we’re approaching the danger zone. Completely covered and I have a mental breakdown. Stay tuned.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.75″ x 2.75″ x 0.6″
-Weight capacity: 5 lbs (total of all 3 hooks)
-Light switch place with storage hooks
-Includes mounting screws
-Fits any single standard switch
I’m actively trying not to eat everything in my kitchen right now. I never subscribed to the idea that if I didn’t buy it, I wouldn’t eat it – I’m an adult, I’ll do what I want! If that means running out to Target at midnight to buy a small red velvet cake to eat in one sitting then so be it (True story). I just need to know that there are options should I decide to indulge, and then I’m usually ok. The trick is knowing how to satisfy your sweet tooth with a taste instead of the whole shebang.
Why bother with low calorie desserts when you could have a tiny slice of heaven? The Just A Slice Cake Pan (Perpetual Kid, $9.99) houses eight individual slice cutouts so you can cook as many or as little slices of dessert as you want. This pan is perfect for friends or couples who can’t agree on dessert flavors because you can bake a slice of each! If you use a boxed cake mix like myself, this pan will make sixteen individual slices. Or exercise amazing self-restraint and bake one slice of cake when the mood strikes you.
It might seem like a waste to bake only one slice of cake, but that’s poppycock. Sometimes, one slice is all you need.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.75″ x 10″ diameter
-Individual slice cake pan
-Makes 8 slices of cake per mold
-Makes 16 slices per box of cake mix
-Colors vary
-Made of 100% silicone
It’s hard to believe it, but winter is actually almost over. A lot of you out there are jumping for joy, but I’m a little bit sad. I mean, you could barely even call these past few weeks winter when it was in fact like a breezy fall day most of the time. Seriously, 60 degree weather yesterday at the end of February – that’s insanity! At any rate, it looks as though it might be time to pack up what little is left of your winter garb and trade it in for some lighter fare.
You know what really blows about it getting warmer? You can’t wear your HoodieBuddie in the middle of summer unless you want to melt into a puddle. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to that problem and it’s called the Hoodie Buddie Red Flannel Print Shirt (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $25.95). Very similar to the winter product you can’t live without, this hoodie is really a button-down shirt with an attached hood. Lightweight enough to pair with your favorite t-shirt yet study enough to wear on its own, this hoodie sheds the bulk while still retaining its most awesome component: integrated earbuds. That’s right, you can listen to your iPod simply by plugging into the jack found in the front pocket and putting the hoodie’s pullstrings (aka your new earbuds) into your ears. Affordable, stylish, and techno savvy? These are a few of my favorite things…
I just wore this on a recent trip and it was totes awesome – one less thing to remember to pack!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Hoodie shirt with integrated earbuds
-Works with most mp3 players/mobile phones
-Earbuds embedded in hoodie drawstrings
-Headphone jack ends in front pocket
-Dynamic sound
-Available in small, medium, or large
-Machine washable (even earbuds)
Nobody wants to be the smelly kid in class so it’s a real bummer when you know that your personal hygiene is up to par, yet you still have that look of unwashed grit. Nothing hammers home the idea of street urchin uncleanliness quite like the pit stain. I’m not talking about the freshly damp fabric on your t-shirt after an intense game of flag football; it’s the set-in stains that are the issue here.
You could just toss your stained shirt, but what if you really like it? What if it’s one of a kind? Maybe instead of wearing it stains and all, you should invest in the Deo-Go Deodorant Stain Remover (Vat19, $11.50) to make it like new. Using a combination of non-iconic surfactants and hydrochloric acid, the formula breaks down the stain residue (caused by a chemical reaction between sweat and the active ingredients in deodorants/antiperspirants) without compromising the integrity of the fabric. This product promises to eliminate sweat stains from any fabric, regardless of color, type, or even age of the stain! The water soluble solution is easy to use – generously spray the stain, scrub with a hard bristle brush, let the stain sit for about 20 minutes, and then throw the shirt in the wash. Each bottle yields revives up to 20 shirts.
Aren’t pit stains the…pits?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Capacity: 9oz
-Remove sweat stains from fabrics
-Revive up to 20 shirts per bottle
-Spray, scrub, and wash
-Water soluble solution
-Works on all fabric colors and types
-100% manufacturer’s satisfaction guarantee
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
