I’m so clumsy it’s a wonder that I’ve managed to avoid breaking each and every bone in my body. Spoiler alert: I haven’t broken any, but it’s not for lack of opportunities. I am a master at tripping over nothing and accidentally running into things. While I could try becoming the next Bubble Boy, I’m hoping there’s a better solution to my accident-prone nature.
I’m not saying it’s a cure-all, but the Path Illuminating Umbrella (Hammacher Schlemmer, $39.95) is certainly a step in the right direction. It’s got to be harder to trip over your own two feet if they’re lit up like a Christmas tree, right? This umbrella, besides being ginormous and gust-resistant, features a flashlight built directly into the handle. Three bright white LED lights cast 100 lumens over a 30 foot range and the flashlight end rotates up to 180 degrees. With up to 48 hours of continuous use, you could take that two day stroll you’ve always dreamed about.
You could try shouting “Lumos!” while holding your current umbrella, but I wouldn’t hold your breath.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 38.5″ x 1.75″
-Umbrella with built in flashlight
-Up to 48 hours continuous use
-Lights up to 30′
-Three bright white LED light (100 lumens)
-60″ nylon gust resistant canopy
-Manual open/close
-Uses 3 AAA batteries (included)
I never have the right kind of batteries in the house. I’m too impatient/poor to go out and buy some so I have to make do with what I have. I usually end up stealing them from something else, then forget about it until I try to do something like change the channel when there aren’t any batteries in the remote. It’s incredibly frustrating!
So you can imagine how amazing I think anything is that doesn’t require batteries to be changed over and over, like the Rechargeable Flat Wireless EZ Mouse (Things You Never Knew Existed, $49.98). The batteries in my wireless mouse die about once a month and I never change them until absolutely necessary. Sure, I could use a wired mouse but that’s for losers. Instead I’d much rather use a mouse like this, with its rechargeable battery that lasts up to six weeks on one charge. Six weeks! And my absolute favorite part is that when it finally comes time to charge up that battery, you just take it out and plug it into your USB port. What about your mouse, you ask? It’s all good – your mouse will keep running for up to three days without the main power supply because it has a backup power source built in!
That’s totesally awesome.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2″ x 5″
-Rechargeable battery mouse
-Up to 6 weeks on one charge
-Backup battery lasts up to 3 days
-1000 dpi high precision
-Ergonomic design
-Rubberized scroll wheel
-3 buttons
-PC and Mac compatible
-Plug and play
I hardly ever wear socks around the house, even in the winter. It’s not that my feet never get cold because they do, it’s just not enough to make me want to put on socks. I have nothing against socks (I happen to have quite a few pairs of holiday themed footwear), but chilly feet was never an ailment of mine. A friend of mine is the complete opposite – can’t live without socks. I think he would wear multiple pairs of socks at once if it weren’t horribly uncomfortable and bulky. His feet are so cold that he sleeps with two blankets wrapped around them and they’re still cold. Crazy true story.
I can’t do anything to help him with his nighttime foot shivers (heated blanket, perhaps?) but I think I found the solution to inadequate sock warmth: the Volt Resistance Heated Indoor/Outdoor Slippers (Vat19, $129.99). With a design more like booties than traditional slippers, these foot cocoons provide the wearer with over six hours of warmth per battery charge. Each slipper uses one battery (included) that fits into a small inside pocket and is easily recharged via wall outlet. The slippers themselves are made of a water-resistant shell which means that most water will slide right off, but I wouldn’t go dunking your foot into a giant puddle. A built-in thermostat ensures that your tootsies stay cozy without burning up and the massive amount of insulation comprising the outer slipper shell prevents heat from escaping. You can even throw them in the washer if they get dirty!
The key here is to remember that these are slippers, not shoes. Yes, it says you can wear them outside but it’s more of a get-the-mail kind of outside rather than go-to-the-mall.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Heated indoor/outdoor slippers
-6+ hours of use per charge
-Built in thermostat
-Actively heated thermal footbed
-Water resistant outer shell
-Sizes medium, large, or extra large
-Includes 2 rechargeable lithium ion batteries and wall charger
-Nylon upper with 640g of insulation
-100% recycled rubber outsole
-Machine washable
-90 day manufacturer’s warranty
I used to be very anti-Apple. Then I bought an iPod. Not too long after that, I bought an iPhone and just this year I became a proud owner of an iPad. It’s safe to say that the jig is up. Now that I own these lovely devices, I can’t imagine putting them in harm’s way. It’s not just the cost, although the mere thought of all the money down the drain is enough to give my heart palpitations. I have come to depend on my little iElectronics like they were part of the family.
So you can imagine my apprehension at the thought of submerging one of them in water a la the iSwim Waterproof Case w/ Headphones (Latest Buy, $26.95). This case insists that it can keep your precious music machine alive with the power of its double ziplock seal, making the whole deal waterproof enough to listen to music whilst swimming. To sweeten the pot even further, the set also includes waterproof headphones, lanyard, and an armband that attaches to the waterproof case. And if you want to blow your mind even more, make sure you catch an air pocket in the case before sealing and it’ll even float in the water!
I always want to believe in the power of a waterproof case, but I think I’d just be way too paranoid to use one. I’d always be worried that my case would be the defective one and that my iPod would turn into an expensive paperweight the moment I stepped foot onto the beach. I said I was paranoid, didn’t I?
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5.5″ x 2.7″ x 0.78″
-Waterproof iPod case and headphones
-Includes armband, headphones, case, and lanyard
-Listen to music while swimming
-Double ziplock
I drink a lot of tea and I have to agree with the notion that loose tea is better. There’s no need to start arguing about it; I’ve done the necessary research and it’s simply the truth. The problem with loose tea versus tea bags is that tea bags are just so darn convenient. I mean, you can reach for a tea bag and you’re in business whereas loose tea involves measurements and contraptions. It can be a bit daunting at first.
My least favorite thing about loose tea is cleaning out my infuser afterwards. No matter what, tiny specs of tea leaves always get stuck inside it and it seems like I spend an eternity trying to get them out. Meanwhile, my tea has gone cold. The Paper Tea Filters (Not On The High Street, £4.50) allow you the luxury of loose tea living without the hassle of fine mesh infuser cleaning. Because these paper filters are disposable, all you need to do is fill one with your tea of choice (I’m currently into oolong), slide the wood stick through the notches, and place the whole thing in your cup. The wood stick keeps the filter upright and provides a burn-free extraction. Each set of 40 even comes packaged in its own reusable cotton bag!
Tea: the other breakfast beverage.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of 40 filters and wood sticks
-Loose leaf tea infusers
-Disposable
-Made of non chlorine bleached pulp fibers
