You know what Batman Begins taught me? One must always mind their surroundings. If it’s smart advice for Bruce Wayne, then it’s good enough for me. It should actually be my mantra because I am forever running into things. Ra’s Al Ghul would be so disappointed in me.
Until I can master the fine art of walking without tripping over my own two feet, the Lappers Non-Slip Dining Trays (Vat19, $15.99) will have to help me out. What looks like a regular serving tray actually features two removable non-skid silicone mats to keep your plate and drink from sliding around. Because I frequently don’t pay attention to where I’m going, this tray would be instrumental in getting my food from Point A to Point B. The plate and drink areas of the tray are also recessed to provide even more dishware support – a place for everything and everything in its place.
“Justice is balance.”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 18″ x 11.5″ x 2″
-Non slip dining tray
-2 removable non skid silicone mats
-Recessed areas for plate and drink
-Large handles
-Eliminates spills
-Available in 3 designs: circles, trellis, or tuxedo
-Dishwasher safe
-Made of sturdy melamine plastic
It might seem like I have a lot of gadgets, probably because I do. If you’re a technology addict like myself then you know that it doesn’t matter how many gadgets you have, it matters which ones you don’t. There are some electronics that I would love to own, but I’m not made of money (neither is my mother, just ask her) so I can’t afford to buy them. I’ve always wanted one of those bladeless fans. I don’t know why, it’s not like a bladed fan doesn’t do the trick. I just want one. But I can’t justify spending a couple hundred dollars on a fan when I could use it for things like food and electricity.
If your technological aspirations far outweigh your monetary value, sometimes you have to compromise. The USB Bladeless Cooling Fan (SkyMall, $19.99) utilizes the same awesome science as those big bladeless fans except it’s a fraction of the price. Oh, and also smaller. But other than that, the two are pretty much the same. Bladelessness still means ultra-quiet and easy to clean, not to mention incredibly safe for youngsters and klutzes alike. As an added bonus, this fan consumes half the energy of a conventional fan so you’re once again single-handedly saving the planet.
It’s almost like you’re part of the Avengers. Almost.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.8″ x 5.1″ x 10.7″
-Portable electric bladeless desk fan
-USB cable included
-Smooth air
-Quiet
-Easy to clean
-Energy saving
Don’t get me wrong, I love technology but it seems like there’s a new gadget every week. I can only carry so many things with me at one time before it becomes a burden and I’m basically under house arrest due to gadget overload. If I can actually manage to get out of the house with my geek bundle, then I have to deal with the issue of readiness. What good is a smartphone if it’s not easily acceptable? Does an iPod play itself? Well, kinda but that’s not the point here.
I tend to fill my car’s cup holders with knick-knacks, trash, and well, cups so there’s not a whole lot of room left for anything actually important. The MagicPad (Latest Buy, $11.95) creates a safe space for your precious gadgets seemingly out of thin air. This stick pad attaches to most surfaces (as long as they are clean, smooth, and dry) and does so without any harsh adhesives. How? Well, that’s the magic part! Once you’ve selected the perfect spot for this pad, you’re all set to stick your items to it. That’s it – no other set-up required. Your objects will stick to the pad without any special devices or magnetic contraptions. If for some reason the pad loses its magical stickiness, all you have to do is wash it in warm water to reactivate it.
Apparently you can also use this stick pad vertically, but that just makes me nervous. I drop things on my own all the time – I don’t need any help in that department.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Stick pad for small items
-Sticks to most surfaces
-Sticks without adhesive
-Wash in warm water to reactivate stickiness
-Heat and cold resistant
-Made of elastic rubber material
When I first started to cook, I did everything the hard way because I didn’t know any better. Did you know that if you put an onion in the fridge that you won’t burst into tears when cutting it? Now I feel like I can’t even step foot in the kitchen without a bundle of time-saving gadgets to help me out. Maybe that makes me a lazy cook; I prefer to think of myself as excessively efficient.
The Garject Garlic Press (Uncommon Goods, $35.00) doesn’t seem like anything too extraordinary at first glance. I mean, I already own a garlic press, why would I need another? Well, trust me when I say that this garlic press kicks your garlic press’s ass. To begin with, you can press multiple cloves at once without even peeling them first (everybody knows that’s the worst part). Once you’ve jammed the cloves in the press, you squeeze the press like you normally would to push the garlic through a network of tiny holes. If there’s any garlic still stuck on the outside of the press, simply use the spring-tension bar to scrape it off. When you’re done pressing your clove(s), open the press and eject the residue with the press of a button. No need to poke around there with your fingers – let the press do all the work!
This is one imPRESSive garlic press.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 7.6″ x 1.75″
-Press multiple cloves at once
-No need to pre-peel garlic
-Scraper removes pressed garlic
-Eject garlic peel when finished
-Wide reservoir
-Study handles for leverage
-Easy to use
-Top 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
