I can’t stand overpaying for stuff. I mean, it’s not like I everything I buy is on sale, but I make it a point not to buy something that is obviously overpriced. There are some times when that’s seemingly impossible, like at a baseball game or the airport. That’s fine, as long as you make sure you’re not shelling out a couple bucks a day just to get a bottle of water when you can get all the H2O you want from the water fountain for free.
Because you can’t take a water fountain with you, the Foldable Water Bottle Set (Things You Never Knew Existed, $9.98) is a great alternative. Lots of people are now carrying around reusable water bottles instead of buying disposable ones and that’s great for the environment. However, they’re usually pretty bulky, so you might decide to leave your fancy water bottle at home when it doesn’t jive with your routine. You won’t have that problem with these water bottles because they flatten and fold up when not in use. A water bottle you can stuff in your pocket – crazy, no? When you’re thirsty, you can unfold the bottle, fill it up (for free!), and it’ll stand upright.
It’s pretty bad when beer and water are the same price.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Pocket friendly water bottle
-Includes carabiner clip and 2 bottles
-Stand upright when full
-Flattens and folds when empty
-Assorted colors
-Freezable
-Washable
-Reusable
Is there anything better than the smell of a barbeque on a summer day? Whenever I smell burgers and hot dogs on the grill, it just makes me happy. To make a quality burger, you have to do just that – make it. You can’t expect perfection from a frozen meat patty!
If you’re gonna make your burgers from scratch, then you might as well go all out. Go ahead, get the grass-fed beef, add only the freshest spices, and use the Mini Deluxe BBQ Burger Set (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $19.95). With this set, you get everything you need (other than the burger itself) to prep and cook your super tasty sliders. First, use the triple hamburger press to release pockets of air and ensure uniform grilling. Then place the flattened patties into the nonstick wire basket and you’re ready for maximum grillage without any burger casualties. While your burgers are cooking, you can trim the hamburger buns to regulation slider size with the bun cutter. All that’s missing is a surly teenage to overcharge you!
Watch out for the Hamburglar!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Make sliders at home
-Includes burger press, grilling basket, and bun cutter
-Nonstick basket cooks 9 patties at a time
-Triple press ensures uniform grilling
-Hassle free grilling
-Hand wash
Sweet mother, it’s hot out there today! Seriously, if you don’t have to go outside then please stay in the comfort of your air conditioning. If you don’t have air conditioning then I suggest you go outside if only to get someplace there is air conditioning, like the mall or Panera (they also have free wi-fi).
I enjoy the slightly warmer temperatures, not these unseasonably scalding ones. Once the weather gets a little more comfortable and a little less immediate sunburn inducing, might I suggest a picnic? It’s been ages since I’ve been on a picnic, but there’s something to be said for a lazy afternoon of food and drink whilst lying in the grass. The Outdoor Wine Bottle Holder (Kegworks, $11.95) is an excellent addition to your picnic basket because nobody wants to accidentally knock over their booze. As an accident-prone person, I enjoy the simplicity of its stake in the ground design as well as its ability to keep my vino out of harm’s way.
It’s about that time of year again, when we make the switch from merlot to chardonnay. Perhaps a white zinfandel will ease the transition?
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12.5″ x 3.25″
-Wine bottle holder
-Sticks right into ground
-Made of metal
Have you ever found yourself out and about, wishing you could sit down only there were no available seating surfaces? Most of us would just tough it out or make do with the options available. I once sat on a freezing cold curb in Chicago for a solid three hours because it seemed better than standing. True story.
If you simply must have a chair at a moment’s notice and you don’t want to actually cart around a chair with you at all times, then the Pocket Chair (Things You Never Knew Existed, $9.98) is for you. In case you can’t already tell by the name, it’s a chair…that fits in your pocket! Now, don’t get your hopes up; it’s not like you’re gonna be able to fit a La-Z-Boy in your pocket. Is it a pathetic excuse for a chair? Yeah. Is it a million times better than not having a pathetic excuse for a chair? You bet. As long as you don’t expect to be sitting on a cloud, you’ll be fine.
This chair allegedly supports up to 250 pounds. Who wants to test that out?
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9.25″ x 6.25″ folded
-Capacity: Up to 250lbs
-Chair that fits in your pocket
-Includes chair and carrying case
-Study lightweight steel
-Stitched nylon canvas seat
I think if you’re going to subject yourself to the act of camping, you had better be prepared for roughing it. To be fair, my idea of “roughing it” would be to stay in a shitty hotel room, but to each their own. I went camping not too long ago and it actually wasn’t that terrible. I’m not saying I’ll be doing to again this weekend, but I managed to survive in the semi-wilderness. Next time (if there is one), there are a few things I’d bring along with me though.
Certainly not the first thing on the list (poncho, anyone?), but the Grandpa’s Firefork (Not On The High Street, £4.50) would be a handy tool to have whilst being one with nature. Depending on your level of camping skills, you might have a grill to cook your food on or you might just have to settle for an open flame, campfire style. If it’s the latter, you’ll probably want this contraption because it’s a great alternative to poking your food onto a stick you found in the woods. Don’t get me wrong, you still need the stick to use as a handle, but at least your food will stay on the clean metal part while it roasts instead of marinating in unknown woodsy bits. And since we talked about overpacking yesterday, you’ll be happy to note that this camping companion takes up barely any space and is fairly multi-use. Heck, you could even use it as a fire poker if you really wanted to.
You know what’s more fun than camping? ANYTHING.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Makes grilling easy
-Attaches firmly to any stick
-Secure storage cap included
-Can be used as a fire poker
-Great for camping
