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
Sometimes even the best of parties need a little nudge to get things going. It can be hard to mix different groups of friends who don’t know each other so what you really need is a good icebreaker. Something tells me that the usual set of silly games you played in summer camp aren’t going to cut it now. As an adult, you need to be a little more creative, perhaps something like…
…the Dinner Party Napkins (Perpetual Kid, $7.99). Sure, the idea of games on paper napkins might seem a little juvenile, but hear me out. Yes, it is. You didn’t think I was gonna admit that, now did you? It doesn’t matter that it’s a little dumb, what matters is that you and your guests will have a blast filling out lists of your favorite things or taking quizzes to see what your handwriting says about you. The games are quick and easy so there’s not a lot of setup or instructions to each one.
You know, Thanksgiving is next week and you could sure use an effortless activity to enjoy while you digest. I think you just found it.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 6.5″ x 6.5″
- -Set of 16 dinner size napkins
- -Multiple games
My kitchen utensils are so boring. I mean, I have more than enough gadgets to get by, but they’re just not any fun. Wouldn’t you rather use a peeler that looks like a beehive hairdo than that generic one you got from the dollar store? My thoughts exactly.
Sure, I could buy a trillion basic toothpicks, but where’s the fun in that? Also, they’re disposable so you’re pretty much committing yourself to killing the Earth. If you’re a friend of Mother Nature’s and/or a geek, then you’ll appreciate the Foodfighters Party Picks (ThinkGeek, $9.99) as an exciting alternative to banal kitchen accessories. The set comes with twelve army men, six green and six grey, in a variety of poses with two toothpick feet attached to the bottom of each one. You don’t have to be a kid to enjoy concocting elaborate battle scenes with your food!
May the best man win!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Set of 12 army men toothpicks
- -Includes 6 green and 6 grey
- -Handwash recommended
- -Made of plastic
I really love to bake, but the problem with baking is that it’s very rarely single serving style. I mean, sure I want a few leftovers but I don’t think it’s healthy for me to eat a whole tray of brownies by myself just so they won’t go to waste. And even if you have a larger amount of people to bake for, there’s no guarantee that they won’t wuss out and spout some nonsense about being on a diet or being full – whatever, dude, it’s still totally your fault that I have to throw away 16 out of 24 delicious cupcakes.
If only there was a way to still be able to make your favorite dessert without the guilt of throwing away most of the leftovers…something like the Split Decision Pie Pan (Taylor Gifts, $16.98), perhaps? Who in their right mind would make one giant pie that no one will finish when they could make two pie halves that everyone can enjoy? Ok, so if you were of the one giant pie persuasion, you can still do that with this pan because it comes with removable nonstick inserts. Once the pie is done baking, just lift and serve for easy removal that won’t break the crusts.
I can’t stress enough how great of an idea this is for holiday baking – nobody wants to bake a whole mince pie just because it’s Grandpa’s favorite when they could instead bake half a mince pie and half a pecan pie.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ diameter
-Bake two pies in one pan
-Includes pie pan and two inserts
-Create two halves or one full size pie
-Lift and serve
-Nonstick coating for even baking
-Easy cleanup
-Made of coated carbon steel
Like most people I know, I work exclusively on my laptop. I mean, does anyone even buy desktop computers anymore? I kid, I kid – I know they do, but the majority of those consumers are either baby boomers or gamers. A laptop just makes more sense for the money because it’s lightweight and portable, making it perfect for travel. And if you’re a home office traditionalist, you can always hook yourself up with a banging wireless keyboard and mouse set to supplement your desktop needs. As much as I love my laptop, I hate its speakers. I have to turn them up full blast most of the time and even then the sound isn’t that great.
If you love your laptop but find yourself unwilling to compromise on good sound, then the Laptop Speaker Bar (ThinkGeek, $59.99) can help bridge the gap. With a simple clip-on design, this speaker bar attaches securely to the top of your laptop and is powered by your laptop’s USB port. There’s no annoying software to install either, just plug and play. The USB cable itself tucks neatly into the back of the speaker so your laptop isn’t overrun with a multitude of stray wires. Once plugged in, you can enjoy a wealth of sound emanating from this compact bar as it features a room-filling 360 degree sound. This speaker solution is perfect for travel (travel case included) or even just as an upgrade from your less than luxurious laptop speakers.
Fun fact: This speaker would also work swimmingly when watching movies on your laptop.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-360 sound from your laptop
-Includes speaker bar and travel case
-Plug and play via USB cable
-Clip on design holds speaker bar securely
-Fits most laptops and netbooks
-USB cable tucks neatly into back of speaker
-Compatible with Mac or PC; USB port required
