Ah, summer. The time of year when you can cast aside all your concerns and just waste away the day. Well, unless of course you have a day job that prohibits you from doing so, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t soak up the sun on your coveted weekends. While I do enjoy spending some QT in the sun, I’m not one for extreme outdoor sports. I’m not really one for the outdoors in general, but I tend to make an exception in terms of glorious weather. You won’t find me playing a game of touch football or soccer, and you’ll just barely find me setting up a net for a game of badminton or volleyball. No, my interests lie in lawn sports such as cornhole, ladderball, croquet, and perhaps even the occasional game of bocce ball.
What’s better than a traditional bocce ball set? The Lighted Bocce Ball Set (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95), naturally! There’s nothing worse than starting a game of bocce ball, having it run late, and then be forced to call it off because you lack the sufficient outdoor lighting power to continue. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me. Fortunately, this set makes it easy to play in the dark because each ball includes an LED that allows it to be seen from up to 100 feet away. Not only that, each of these eight bocce balls can be switched from lighted to flashing LEDs, or used interchangeably. The on/off switch is located inside each ball so it’s not like rough play will cause the light to extinguish unexpectedly. This balls in this bocce set are the official size for International Bocce Federation play and weigh only two-thirds of a competition ball, making the game accessible for just about anyone.
I would love to cut out of the office early and start a pick-up bocce ball game. Then again, it is about 90 degrees outside right now. Hmm, perhaps I’ll stay here and get some work done instead. Bummer.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4 1/4″ (official size for International Bocce Federation play)
-Set of 8 balls (2 each of red, blue, yellow, and green)
-Each ball includes LED light and 3 sets of batteries
-Light can be seen from up to 100′ away
-Choose from lighted or flashing LEDs
-LEDs turned on/off using switch located inside ball
-Stores in convenient nylon case
-Measuring string for scoring
-Hard plastic construction
I’ve recently started redecorating my place, well, “redecorating” is probably an overstatement – more like decorating for the first time. I decided that I didn’t want to constantly look like I had just moved in and it seemed like a lot less effort than actually finishing unpacking and/or getting rid of the box mountain in my living room. One very simple (and you know I’m all about that) way to make your place look more lived-in is to rock some awesome decor. It can be as easy as hanging a painting on your wall or as difficult as doing some rewiring to install the new light you bought. Guess which one of these I’ll be talking about today…
That’s right, we’re going with the easy-peasy option and that means showing off some personal photos with a little help from the Crossword Puzzle Picture Frame (Plasticland, $15.00). You could just go out and buy some boring normal picture frame, hang it on your wall, and call it a day, but what would be the fun in that? Wouldn’t you rather invest in a photo frame that was not only awesome in itself, but also had an interactive element to it? Shaped like a crossword puzzle, not only does this frame house a photo of your choice, but you can also jot down notes about the picture using the included dry erase pen. Because the crossword puzzle is a dry erase surface, you can change the message as often as you like to correspond with the picture or your mood at that moment. And if you were thinking about giving this frame as a gift, you could even customize the frame to reflect the occasion.
This frame is also a good way to see if people are really paying attention to the things around them. Try writing a weekly trivia question on yours or perhaps something ridiculous about a friend right before they come over. Pretty soon, everyone will be wanting to come over to your place to check out your awesome crossword frame. You’re welcome.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10″ x 7.25″
-Holds one 4×6 photo
-Includes dry erase pen
-”A” frame stand in back
-Made of molded plastic
I’m not a huge fan of getting my hair cut. As such, I tend to wait until the last possible minute, when my hair is so long and scraggly that people are embarrassed to be seen with me. I mean, think about how annoying it is – not only is it hard to find a decent hairstylist, but it’s freaking expensive to boot! The last time I got my hair cut, it cost $25 and I didn’t even think it was that great of a job. In fact, I bet I could do better with a set of clippers in the comfort of my own home. Ok, well if not better, then certainly cheaper.
If you’re as reluctant as I am to spend your hard-earned pennies, then you’ll also appreciate the Haircut Umbrella (Taylor Gifts, $7.98). Perfect for those haircuts at home, this cone-shaped apparatus fits around your neck and catches those pesky hair clippings before they create a mess all over your floor. With an adjustable neck size and a tab closure fastener, this contraption might make you look like a dog that’s just had surgery but at least you won’t have to worry about cleaning up after your at-home beautification.
Ok, so you’re wearing this umbrella while a trusted friend gives you a new ‘do, but what happens when you’re all done? How do you take off the cone without spilling the hair all over the floor? Maybe I’m just clumsy (I am), but I can’t figure that one out.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 25″ x 6″
-Eliminates the need for sweeping
-Adjusts to neck size
-Tab closure
-Great for kids or adults
-Folds for compact storage
-Made of polyester
You know when your mom would make brownies and she’d make you her little helper? Wasn’t the best part of that whole task not the chocolaty result, but licking the bowl while the brownies baked? I mean, back in the day before anyone cared about raw eggs and the threat of salmonella, your mom would hand you a wooden spoon and let you go to town on that mixing bowl. I never used the spoon though. Sure, you might be able to start out that way, but when it gets down to the last little bits, it’s your trusty index finger all the way.
What if you could lick the bowl without actually licking the bowl, thereby appeasing the fears of all those germaphobics out there? The Finger Food Spoons (Perpetual Kid, $7.99) act as a go-between, allowing you to relive one of your favorite your childhood pleasures while at the same time clearly defining your sophisticated hygienic boundaries. Made of food-safe plastic, these little spoons fit onto the tip of your finger and give you the illusion of dipping your finger into the bowl to have a taste. Packaged as a set of four in varying colors, each member of the family can claim their very own.
I know, I know, this does nothing to alleviate your feeds about raw eggs, but if I were you I’d just suck it up and eat the brownie mix. I mean, people have been doing it for years and they’re fine. I’m not saying you should forgo the baking entirely (although that could be pretty awesome), maybe just live a little dangerously by enjoying a finger spoonful or two.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.25″ x 1.25″
-Designed with soft curves
-Set of 4 in varying colors
-Made of food safe plastic
-Hand wash only
Little kids are always wanting to stay up later than they should and when it’s finally time to put them to bed, it can be a real challenge getting them to stay there. For one thing, going to bed at an early bedtime is incredibly boring. Yeah, there might be a toy or two in their room, but Mom said lights out and she meant it. And if your kiddies aren’t sleeping because they’re too antsy, they’re probably afraid of sleeping all by themselves in that dark room. You know, just them and the monsters underneath their bed. Sure, they could benefit from a nightlight, but sometimes they need a little more to appease their fears.
Offering way more than the standard nightlight, the Twilight Sea Turtle (Latest Buy, $39.95) is sure to set your child’s mind at ease. The turtle projects a night sky full of stars onto the ceiling of your child’s room to create an interesting nightscape for them to look at before they fall asleep. The turtle’s shell also illuminates in three soothing colors to highlight five endangered sea species. With a built-in sleep 45 minute sleep timer, your child can lay in bed and let the stars lull them to sleep. If they still can’t sleep, the set also includes a Twilight story book and helpful star guide that allows them to interact with the nightlight.
Even though it’s recommended for ages two and up, I think just about anyone of any age would enjoy this light. I mean, remember how awesome those glow-in-the-dark stars were that you used to stick all over your ceiling? This is pretty much the same thing, except you can take this thing anywhere!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 14″ x 12″
-Includes interactive nightlight, Twilight story book, helpful star guide, and adoption certificate
-Projects multitude of stars
-Features 45 minute sleep timer
-Illuminates in 3 soothing colors: ocean blue, emerald green, and aquamarine
-Uses 3 AAA batteries (included)
-Recommended for ages 2 and up
-Winner of the 2008 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice of the Year award
