Oh man, today is just a scorcher! I was outside for about five minutes and my face almost melted off my skull. True story. It’s getting to be that time of year where you either have to buy a pool or make friends with somebody who has one. Because pools are expensive and not many people have the outdoor space for one, I recommend the latter. It’s probably easier to use the pool of a friend you already have, but if none of your current friends have aquatic means, then you’re gonna have to go make some new ones who do. You might think that it’s in poor form to befriend someone just because they have a pool, but you’d be wrong.
Once you set eyes on the Floating Cooler and Couch (Hammacher Schlemmer, $79.95), you’ll know what I mean about a pool being the coolest (!) summer accessory. On first glance, it looks like your average inflatable pool lounger, but it’s a little more awesome than that. See, this lounger has a concealed cargo hold built-in under the footrest that houses a cooler. That’s right, you can enjoy your favorite beverages without leaving the pool, or even your seat! The cooler fits 15 cans on ice and has a built-in drain to eliminate excess liquid. With a full height backrest and a cup holder in each armrest, you rest assured that you’ll be lounging in luxury this summer.
I don’t have a pool because a) there’s no room for one, and b) I lack adequate funds to purchase one. Unfortunately, I also don’t know anyone who was one (or access to one) so I’d better fine tune my networking skills because I need to make some new friends, and fast!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 65″ x 39″ x 33.5″
-Weight: 18lbs
-Inflatable lounger with built in cooler
-0.5′ cu cargo hold concealed under footrest
-Cooler holds 15 cans on ice
-Cooler has built in drain for excess liquid
-Cup holder in each armrest
-Full height backrest
-Lounger made of heavy gauge vinyl
-Inflates with pump (sold separately)
“You don’t have to drink to have fun.” That’s what boring people say. No, seriously, I know this is true, but it seems like having an adult beverage or two lightens the mood and amps up the party just a bit. It’s not like I’m advocating drinking just to get drunk – I prefer to keep the mood festive by playing a game or two with my brewski of choice. There are plenty out there to choose from, so you can decide whether you want to get completely schnockered or if you’d prefer a slow descent into the beer goggle phenomenon.
Depending on your level of skill, the Shot Pong Game Set (KegWorks, $15.95) will be a fast or slow ticket to Drunktown. On the plus side, since you’re using two ounce shot glasses instead of regular sized cups, you’ll be able to practice your throwing skills all night long. And while one of those most common problems with setting up a game of beer pong is the space needed, it’s not an issue with this set because you’ll only need about half as much space as a regular game. The included triangle racks also help minimize the mess because they’ll keep your shot glasses in perfect alignment on the table (no more hardcore throws knocking full cups onto the floor). Both myself and the manufacturer do not recommend or condone the use of liquor with this set (and if you have to ask why, then you’re just stupid).
This would actually be a great way to determine the ultimate beer pong champion. Sure, anyone can make a couple of lucky shots into a big plastic red cup, but what about tiny shot glasses? This is where we separate the men from the boys!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Capacity: 2oz shot cups
-Includes 12 reusable plastic shot cups, 2 triangle racks, 2 shot pong balls, rules sheet, and suggested playing tips
-Similar concept as beer pong
-Requires smaller playing surface than beer pong
-Liquor not encouraged or recommended for use with this product
How many times have you gone out with your buddies, only to realize that you all forgot who was bringing the beer? Or maybe one of you actually remembered the hooch, but it was like drinking liquid sunshine because Bob left it in the trunk of his car all day? It’s understandable – he had to work all day and the only time he could pick up a six pack was on his lunch break. These kinds of things can happen to anyone. The important thing is to not assign blame to anyone. Instead, we need to learn how to prevent these missteps so that our next camping trip, picnic, or BBQ isn’t ruined by the presence of undrinkable malt beverages.
The Beer Bag (Drinkstuff, £5.99) is designed to keep your cold ones cold, regardless of where you plan on enjoying them. Made of plastic, this beer holder holds six bottles or cans of your favorite beverage, alcoholic or otherwise, and actually keeps them cold. Just fill the bag with your bevs, then add ice and water until full. That’s it. That’s all you need to do to have a fully functional, ultra portable beer cooler. But unlike most coolers, it’s not bulky or ginormous; the bag folds flat for easy storage. Bet you can’t do that with your current cooler.
I wish I had one of these when I was in college. I was too busy running around with 30-packs hidden underneath a blanket and screwdrivers mixed in a water bottle to worry about whether or not my beer was cold. Ah, those were the days.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 180mm x 205mm x 145mm
-Weight: 132g
-Water tight beer cooler
-Just fill with water and ice
-Space for 6 bottles or cans
-Carry handle
-Folds flat for easy storage
-Ideal for parties and outdoor events
-Made of plastic
-Not available for delivery in USA or Canada
Ok, so let’s face it, we’ve pretty much come to the point where if you were going to buy a gift for someone, it’s not gonna be online. Sure, there’s that small window of opportunity with 2-day shipping, but that’s pretty expensive and a lot times, it’s not even going to guarantee that your gifts will arrive in time for Christmas. So I thought today would be the perfect time to talk about a spectacular gift, one perfect for all occasions, yet just slightly unattainable.
The item in question happens to be the totally boss La-Z-Boy Cool Chair (Drinkstuff, £1299.99). I know you know this chair. And even if by some slim chance you have no knowledge of said chair, there’s no way that you’re not completely awestruck right now. I mean, you’ve got a La-Z-Boy recliner, for starters. Right away, you know you’re gonna be super comfortable lounging around in this chair all day. But the first upgrade is the built-in lumbar heating system. Who doesn’t like a nice heated chair during these winter months or after a long day at the office? Another noteworthy feature is the six motor massage system that is built into the chair. Again, who doesn’t want a personal massage controlled by a conveniently located handset after a hard day? Oh, but I saved the best part for last. The pièce de résistance, if you will, is the built-in mini fridge. That’s right, I said built-in, as in part of the chair, as in don’t ever have to get up to get a beer ever again. The fridge is located in one of the armrests and holds up to six cans of your favorite beverage. The fridge lid also comes equipped with a cup holder, because who could be expected to lift a finger when sitting in this heavenly cloud?
Ok, so what’s the downside when it comes to this beautiful chair? It’s only available for delivery in Northern Ireland. Yup, looks like us Yanks are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to gluttonous lush comforts. I mean, don’t we have the market cornered on laziness and obesity? You would think this chair would be marketed exclusively to Americans.
5 out of 5 Joey Tribbiani stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1150mm x 1040mm x 850mm
-Fridge dimensions: 360mm x 145mm x 230mm
-Built in fridge holds up to 6 beverage cans
-Cup holder situated on lid
-6 motor massage system
-Built in lumbar heating system
-Hand crafted
-Only available for delivery in Northern Ireland
It seems like it’s been ages since I’ve experienced a decent night of drinking and general debauchery. Maybe I’m just getting older or I’m a little more mature than I used to be, but the usual drinking games and drunken antics aren’t doing it for me anymore. I need something new, something different and exciting to perk up my weekend social gatherings. I want something that when my friends come over and see it, they won’t be able to believe their eyes. They will stand, chins dropped in awe, rendered powerless by the sheer magnificence of such an item. It’s not too much to ask, right?
Thanks goodness for the Spin N Shot Roulette Drinking Game (Drinkstuff, £15.98), or I would still be searching in vain for that majestic essential party accessory. Ok, so the appeal of this thing should be fairly obvious because it combines gambling and drinking, two things that go together like peanut butter and jelly. If you like gambling, you could be tempted to just take the easy way out and get some card games going on. That’s cool, but maybe you want to switch it up every now and then, so it would be good to have a back-up. Enter a roulette wheel and you’ve got a whole new party aesthetic happening. I don’t know if I’d want to play roulette Vegas style because it seems way too easy to lose the house, but if you’re playing for shots, then I don’t really see the harm. Each shot glass corresponds with two or three numbers, so you have a greater chance of your shot “winning” each time you play. If you’re hardcore, you could just refill the shot glasses as you go, or if you have any sympathy for your liver, you could just leave them empty after the first number is selected. There are a total of 16 shot glasses on the wheel, which means you could invite 15 friends to a crazy Vegas themed party.
I never really was a big Vegas fan. I mean, I like the whole idea of gambling and boozing in the afternoon, but that’s really only fun for a couple of hours. After that, unless you’re Bill Gates, you’re flat broke and the seeds of a hangover start to set in. And that’s just depressing.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 290mm (diameter)
-Contains a roulette wheel, 2 balls, and 16 shot glasses
-Each glass corresponds with 2 or 3 different numbers
-Delivery only available in select countries
