I wouldn’t say that I like getting up early, but it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as other people I know. When my alarm sounds, I immediately turn it off and get out of bed. I didn’t even know how to use the snooze button until a few years ago – true story. Once I’m out of bed, everything else is gravy – all it takes for me to get up is to literally get up. To say this is not true for some people is a clear understatement. If someone tells you that they’re not a morning person, believe them. Your life depends on it.
If there’s any doubt in your mind about your roommate’s temperament, the Mood Mug (Generate Design, $25.00) will clear it up. There are four possible designs available, each depicting a different mood so everyone you encounter will know exactly how you’re feeling without any words exchanged. It doesn’t matter if you’re happy, moody, sleepy, or even hungover – your mug will say it all. Besides the benefit of less morning chatter, these mugs save space by forgoing handles in favor of double wall insulation. Cool to the touch, your coffee/tea stays hotter longer with no pesky handle to slow you down!
Just remember: Sip slowly, lest you burn your entire mouth.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.75″ x 2.95″
-Capacity: 7 fl oz
-Handleless mug reflects mood
-Double wall insulation
-Space saving
-Available in Happy Larry, Seriously Sleepy, Monstrously Moody, and Horribly Hungover
-Dishwasher safe
-Do not microwave
-Made of Grade A food safe porcelain
I recently read an article that said multitasking doesn’t exist. When you think you’re multitasking, your brain is actually focusing on one thing at a time. More accurately, you’re probably doing one thing well and totally messing up the other one. Have you ever tried talking on the phone while typing? It’s pretty much impossible – I usually end up typing what I’m saying instead of what I meant to write. If you want something to get done, you’re better off doing it without any distractions.
This is especially true if that something is carrying anything fragile or breakable as you are most certainly going to fall if you try to overload yourself. I know, I dish the advice but I’m never gonna take it because there’s no way I’m making multiple trips when I can stack and tilt myself into one. The Beverage Caddy with Handle (Taylor Gifts, $19.98) sees your need for efficiency and raises you a sense of security. Instead of grabbing everyone’s drinks by smooshing them together waitress style (seriously harder than it looks), simply stick them in this caddy. It has slots for 11 drinks that are deep enough to both hold your bevs as well as ensuring that they won’t tip over if you jostle the caddy a bit. You can fit just about any size cup or glass in here, but I think you’re out of luck with the Big Gulp.
If you have more than 11 drinks to carry, congratulations! You win the friend contest!
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 14″ diameter
-Holds 11 drinks
-Accommodates all cup sizes
-Deep drink wells
-Made of plastic
I’m at that age where I’ve started to replace my adolescent items with ones of a more mature variety. For example, I recently started drinking wine with more purpose than simply to get wasted but I still feel like a college when sipping out of a colorful plastic goblet. So I went out and bought a few actual wine glasses – nothing fancy, yet streets ahead of my old college dishware.
Just because I’m graduated from plasticware to actual glass doesn’t mean that I’m actually gonna hand wash it so the Tether Stemware Saver (Amazon, $9.26) is a must. Sure, you could take your chances and put your precious wine glasses anywhere in the dishwasher, but who’s to say your mugs or other glasses won’t start pushing and shoving once you close the door? Better safe than sorry with these flexible dishwasher attachments that slide over your dishwasher’s posts on one end and clip onto the wine glass stem on the other. Because they’re flexible yet sturdy, these tethers are suitable for both top and bottom dishwasher racks (depending on the size of your stemware and the fullness of your dishwasher).
Wine not?
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 7.7″ x 1.4″ x 3″
-Flexible dishwasher attachment
-Pack of 4
-Hollow base slide over dishwasher post
-End clasp clips onto wine glass stem
-Top or bottom rack dishwasher safe
As I get older, I’ve stopped going out and getting all crazy in my downtime. Instead of going to a crowded bar at midnight and fighting to buy overpriced drinks, I’d much rather stay at home with a glass of wine. I mean, not only am I spending money but I’m also being healthy because red wine has many restorative properties. Yup, that’s why I’m drinking it, for the health reasons.
Regardless of your reasons for drinking the vino, there is one universal problem: the drip. Every time I pour a glass of wine, I fall victim to the drip. The drop stains counter tops and tablecloths with wild abandon – it must be stopped! The DropStop Wine Pour Spout (Vat19, $3.99) is a flexible disc that, when inserted in a wine bottle, cuts off the flow of liquid as soon as the bottle is lifted. Why is that important? That, my friends, is the key to defeating the drip. You get two discs per set and each disc is reusable as well as certified food safe. Simply roll the disc into a cylindrical shape and insert half of it into the bottle. Voila! Instant no-spill spout!
As an added plus, you won’t have to deal with constantly uncorking and re-corking the bottle.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 2.75″ diameter
-No more wine spills
-Includes 2 discs per set
-Flexible to fit any size wine bottle
-Reusable
-Certified food safe
-Made in Denmark
I have pretty tiny hands. It’s not something that really bothers me on a daily basis – on the contrary, it’s usually an asset. I can reach into tiny spaces to retrieve lost items or, if need be, slip out of restraints. There is one definite time where I am not a fan of my miniature mitts and that’s usually when I’m having a beer. See, I can stuff a lime in my cerveza of choice no problem, but I can’t turn it over because my fingers are too small to plug the bottle. In short, it’s a mess.
Doll-handed beer drinkers, rejoice! The Corona Lime Bomber (Kegworks, $12.95) allows you to fruitify your beverage with very little effort. Instead of shoving your inadequately small fingers into the bottle, why not let this device do it for you? It has two pieces: a loader that sits on top of the bottle (this is where you place the lime) and a plunger (what you use to propel the lime into your bottle). Place said loader on top of beer bottle, insert lime, and push down plunger. Your lime wedge is not only inserted into your beer with ease, but it’s also squeezed in the process to promote optimum flavor.
You could just go limeless, but that would be CHAOS.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Inserts fruit wedges into bottled drinks
-Includes loader and plunger
-Squeezes fruit for optimum flavor
-Sanitary
