My place is looking kinda sad as of late. There are a quite a few imperfections on my walls that need fixing but I simply don’t have the time/energy/money/experience to deal with them at the moment. Luckily I have an easy solution for this: cover them up. Now, I’m not gonna go all college dorm room and throw a bunch of tapestries on the walls, but something has to be done.
Because I’m just as much a sucker for a good deal as I am for a quirky product, the Instantly Antique Wall Decals (Plasticland, $24.95) are my kind of wall art. As part of an exceptionally priced package, you get 35 full-color removable and restickable decals. A lot of these sticker frames are starting to show up lately, but this set has more than just a few frames – you also get hand-drawn wall art to supplement the set. So what if your flimsy walls won’t support a proper shelf? You can look arty with one of these decals instead! Also, while a lot of sticker frame sets include merely different sizes of the same type of frame, here you get varying sizes, shapes, and even colors.
I don’t know why anyone hires decorators, this is totes easy.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 12″ x 12″ portfolio
-Hand drawn accessories and frames
-Includes 4 sheets of full color decals
-35 decals total
-Removable and restickable
-Child safe polysheeve
-Made of phthalate free vinyl
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve ruined dinner because I had something to do that would “only take a minute” – it always takes longer than that, and by the time I’d get back to the kitchen it’d almost be on fire. Setting a timer seems like it would work except when I’m running around different parts of my house I can’t exactly see the stove, if you know what I mean. I need a quick and easy visual cue to keep myself on track…
…which is exactly what the Color Alert Kitchen Timers (Vat19, $9.99 – $14.99) do. Instead of relying solely on a faint beeping noise, each of these timers uses color codes to signal how much time is left before your kitchen bursts into flames (or, dinner is done). Whether you choose analog or digital, the method is the same: simply twist the timer clockwise to add time or counterclockwise to deduct it. The timer has a 60 minute set time maximum and will glow green when there are more than 10 minutes remaining. Once you hit that 10 minute mark, the color switches to yellow and will stay that way until you whittle your way down to a minute. At this point the timer will glow red, sounding an alarm to signal the end of the allotted time and continue to glow red for another full minute. Basically as long as you can remember to look at the timer, you and your food should be fine.
“Danger, Will Robinson! Your souffle is burning!”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2.5″
-Color changing timer alert:
-Green: 10+ minutes remaining
-Yellow: 1-10 minutes remaining
-Red: 0-60 seconds remaining
-Turn clockwise to set time
-Available in analog or digital
-60 minute maximum timer duration
-Digital timer can be paused or restarted
-Digital timer features 12 hour clock
-Batteries included
I have a pretty extensive hoodie collection. For awhile, it was all I really wore. Who needs a jacket when you’ve got a hoodie? A hoodie will not only keep you warm but it renders fussy umbrellas obsolete. As a side note, I find it hilarious when people think an umbrella is a good idea in the middle of a windy thunderstorm. Not only is it going to turn itself inside out almost immediately, but it’s also just a fancy lightning rod.
If it’s one thing I don’t need, it’s another hoodie. That being said, I really do need the HoodieBuddie (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $34.95). It looks like your standard black zip-up (perfect for any occasion – even formal!), yet it’s oh so much more. Finally giving those useless drawstrings a purpose, this hoodie features integrated headphones built into the drawstring ends. Follow the embedded cables down through the hoodie to the front pocket where you’ll find a standard headphone jack ready to plug into your musical media of choice. And if that’s not enough to dazzle you, the whole shebang is machine washable – headphones included!
Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll look a lot less goofy than the guy in the banner pic. No guarantees though.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Zip up hoodie with built in headphones
-Available in unisex sizes small, medium, large, and extra large
-Headphones built into drawstring ends
-Standard headphone jack
-Compatible with most mobile devices
-Machine washable (even headphones)
As I get older, holidays get a little less special for me. One thing I can always count on to lift my spirits around the holidays is dessert. Oh man, the desserts are so worth it. My favorite has always been cookies because you can snack on them throughout the day (they make an excellent breakfast) and they’re pretty much single servings. The only problem I can see with holiday cookies is that they aren’t around in between holidays. I’m not saying I want to be eating Christmas cookies year round, but a little festivity never hurt anyone.
The Letter Pressed Cookie Cutters (Perpetual Kid, $17.99) bring a bit of sparkle to an otherwise normal looking cookie. Each cookie cutter is double-sided so you can cut out the cookie shape with one side and press the letter shape into the cookie with the other. There are 26 letter cookie cutters as well as an ampersand and exclamation point. Now, I know what you’re thinking – ransom notes. Sure, it would probably decrease the seriousness of your point, but it would also probably put the recipient in a fantastically good mood and therefore more likely to comply with your demands.
Ransom notes: Not just for hostage situations anymore.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of 26 letters plus ampersand & exclamation point
-Double sided cookie cutters
-Punch out shapes on one side
-Imprint letters on other side
-Packed in reusable plastic storage trays
-Hand wash only
-Made of durable food safe plastic
I actually like winter (or at the very least having seasons), so I’m a bit miffed that the only real snow we’ve gotten thus far this season was on Halloween. Sure, single-digit temperatures aren’t all that awesome but when you pair it with snow it doesn’t seem nearly as bad. Snow or not, one thing that definitely sucks about increasingly cold temperatures is having to get in your car to go to work in the morning. I hardly ever remember to warm up my car so I end up shivering all the way to work and on occasion have been known to only clear off just a tiny patch of frost on the driver’s side of the windshield. Neither of these things is advisable.
You really should warm up your car before driving it in the winter but if you’re really in a hurry then maybe the Visor Mount Heater And Defroster (Things You Never Knew Existed, $22.98) can help you out a little. While it won’t warm up your engine (yes, that’s important), it will increase visibility as well as defrost your cold appendages. The apparatus mounts to your visor and is powered by your car’s cigarette lighter, allowing it to instantly emit warm air into your vehicle. You’ll still need to turn your defrosters on, but it’ll give you a jump start on warming up.
You might not even need this thing since the world seems to be overheating at an alarming rate. Seriously, pretty soon summer is just gonna be another word for inferno.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6″ x 4″ x 2″
-Portable heater and defroster
-Plugs into 12V outlet
-Visor mounted
-Blows hot air
-Defrosts and defogs
