Why is everyone so obsessed with glowing items? Show me someone out there who doesn’t think glow sticks are cool and I’ll show you a liar. Seriously, if it glows it’s gotta be awesome. Let’s look at the evidence: Lite-Brite? Awesome. Glo-Worm? Awesome. Rudolph’s nose? Super awesome. It doesn’t look like the novelty is wearing off anytime soon.
The Glo Nightlight with Portable Balls (Amazon, $56.21) is a great example of practical glowing technology. On the surface, it looks like a generic nightlight – funky design, but with your basic monster-banishing principles. What sets this light apart is that you can remove each of the balls from the base and they will continue to glow, no batteries required. Ok, so no batteries must mean you have to charge them up before each use, right? Nope, these babies are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Each ball is powered by a low energy LED (won’t be hot to the touch) and will fade to dark after 30 minutes of glow time (no shutoff needed). The balls will light up and change colors, but only when on the base. When removed, the balls simply glow a white-green light.
Whatever happened to Glo-Worm? Somebody needs to investigate that, right quick!
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Multi color nightlight
-No charging required
-Fades to dark after 30 minutes
-Color selection lever
-Select one color or color changing
-Low energy LED base
-9 volt power adapter included
-BPA free, Phthalate free, and PVC free
I’m trying to be good about eating breakfast every morning because when I don’t I just get grumpy and I don’t want to do anything. I like a no muss no fuss breakfast, so I usually go with cereal. Or at least you would think that was the easy way out, but how am I supposed to deal with the soggy cereal epidemic we have on our hands? I can’t let my cereal sit for two seconds before it’s rendered inedible by it lactose counterpart. Something has to be done, for the good of breakfast cereals everywhere.
An answer to my plight at last! The EatMeCrunchy Cereal Bowl (Latest Buy, $13.95) lets you have your cereal and eat it too! The secret to this bowl’s plan is a hidden removable shelf within the bowl that separates milk from cereal until you’re ready to mix the two. Only a small part of the bowl lets the milk and cereal mix, until then you keep your cereal dry on higher ground. When you’re ready to eat a bit, just slide some cereal into the lower portion. Amazeballs!
Don’t even tell me you’ve managed to eat a whole bowl of corn flakes without a serious case of the soggies because that’s just nonsense.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.7″ x 2.4″ x 5.7″
-Keeps cereal from getting soggy
-Removable shelf inside bowl
-Dishwasher safe
Sometimes I stay up late watching TV and I end up falling asleep on the couch. When I wake up, it’s in the wee hours of the morning and there’s nothing on but awful infomercials. Of course, I could always turn the TV off and go to bed, but I almost never do that. I get sucked into the terrible product sales pitches and how ridiculous it all is. One of the things I’ll never understand is why people buy super expensive knife sets when you can get by with something on the cheap.
I’m not saying that you should get your knives from the Dollar Store because that’s just stupid – trust me, they break in half almost immediately. However, you can buy a decently priced knife set and make it last with something like the Kitchen Magician Knife Sharpener (Plasticland, $16.00). It’s hella easy to sharpen a knife and why wouldn’t you want to? It makes your knives like new and as long as you don’t let them go too long without sharpening, one set of knives should last you a long time. So if you’re gonna go the knife sharpening route, why not get one that looks like you’re a magician? It’s pretty much a no-brainer.
Tips for knife purchasing: Make sure your knife has a plastic handle (wood traps germs) and at least two tongs in the handle for maximum stability. I prefer a serrated edge, but to each their own.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 8.5″ x 2.25″ x 2.5″
- -Sharpens dull knives
- -Made of plastic
{November 02, 2011}
BANG!
Picture this: you’re snuggled up in bed, deep under the covers, and you’re just about to go to sleep when you realize you forgot to turn off the light. Not a big deal, right? Of course you’re more than able to get up and flick the switch, but wouldn’t it be so much better to just stay in bed where it’s warm? While lights do not turn themselves off and The Clapper is long outdated, there is a better solution that leaving cuddletown.
As a much more exciting and lazier method, why not turn your lights out with the BANG! (Generate Design, $379.00)? This lighting set features a classically shaped lamp with a gun-shaped remote control, but the fun doesn’t stop there. Simply point the gun remote at the lamp and watch as the lamp lights up. To turn off the lamp it’s the same deal, with a twist – the lampshade suddenly knocks to the side as if actually shot and the light is extinguished. Shoot the lamp again to turn the light on and the lampshade slowly rises into upright position again.
It’s probably not a good idea to actually shoot your lamp with a real gun to turn it off. Sure, it’ll work the first time, but then you’ll be hard-pressed to turn it back on without serious resuscitation.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 18.5″ x 11.8″
-Remote range: 50′
-Desk lamp with gun shaped remote control
-Fire “gun” to turn light on and off
-Lampshade knock to side in “off” mode
-Lampshade rises up in “on” mode
-On/off switch located on power cord
-Light bulb sold separately
Lawn work blows. Not only is it unpleasant, but it’s usually so long and tedious that you have to save it for one of your days off. Seriously, who wants to spend their day off from work doing more work? One thing I’ve completely given up on is raking leaves. It takes forever and you’re constantly bending over to rake and shovel up the leaves – basically, you spend entire the day trying not to throw out your back. And who are leaves harming anyways? Nobody.
If you’re one of those neat freaks that simply can’t let the leaves fall where they may, then the Amazing Rake (Taylor Gifts, $39.98) is gonna hook you up with a super simple way to clean up your yard. With a normal rake, you have to slowly gather leaves into a pile and then try to shovel them up, snow style. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Leaves are not snow. Leaves blow in multiple directions at the slightest gust of wind. This rake features a grabbing mechanism that allows you to rake, grab, and lift leaves in one smooth motion. Best of all, you don’t have to keep bending down to pick up the leaves. Finally, a rake for the lazy!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to actually do the lawn work yourself. That’s what landscapers are for.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 54″ x 17″ x 9″
-Rake, grip, lift, and bag in one motion
-Prevents back pain
-Keeps hands clean
-Made of copolymer
