I frequently forget to bring my phone charger with me when I go on a trip. You’d think it’d be something I’d remember to pack, seeing as my phone needs to be charged daily. Oh no, I always end up rummaging through my bag at the end of the day, only to come up empty-handed. The problem with a charging cable is that you usually only have one of them, so transporting it from one place to another is usually a hassle. My charger is plugged in behind my bed – I am way too lazy to unplug it for a short trip.
I’d much rather invest in something like the Credit Card Sized Cell Phone Charger (Hammacher Schlemmer, $29.95) because then I’d never have to wonder if I remembered to pack the right cable. This phone charger is small enough to fit inside the credit card slot of a wallet, micro USB cord and all! Compatible with most Android and Blackberry smartphones (as well as traditional dinosaur-age cell phones), the charger is powered by a lithium-ion battery that can fully charge your device before requiring a power-up itself. Sure, a charging cable doesn’t take up that much room, but it’s way easier to forget in a time crunch. This baby never has to leave the comfort of your wallet, ensuring that your smartphone never has to go without power.
I am addicted to wallet-sized gadgets. Would it be wrong to start carrying two wallets, one for gadgets and the other for actual purchasing properties?
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.25″ x 2″ x .25″
-Weight: 1 oz
-Cordless cell phone power hub
-Fits inside wallet credit card pocket
-One cell phone charge per hub charge
-Micro USB cord
-Available in brown or black
-Compatible with most Android and Blackberry smartphones
-Recharges in 1 hour via USB adapter
It’s hard to believe it, but winter is actually almost over. A lot of you out there are jumping for joy, but I’m a little bit sad. I mean, you could barely even call these past few weeks winter when it was in fact like a breezy fall day most of the time. Seriously, 60 degree weather yesterday at the end of February – that’s insanity! At any rate, it looks as though it might be time to pack up what little is left of your winter garb and trade it in for some lighter fare.
You know what really blows about it getting warmer? You can’t wear your HoodieBuddie in the middle of summer unless you want to melt into a puddle. Luckily, there’s an easy solution to that problem and it’s called the Hoodie Buddie Red Flannel Print Shirt (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $25.95). Very similar to the winter product you can’t live without, this hoodie is really a button-down shirt with an attached hood. Lightweight enough to pair with your favorite t-shirt yet study enough to wear on its own, this hoodie sheds the bulk while still retaining its most awesome component: integrated earbuds. That’s right, you can listen to your iPod simply by plugging into the jack found in the front pocket and putting the hoodie’s pullstrings (aka your new earbuds) into your ears. Affordable, stylish, and techno savvy? These are a few of my favorite things…
I just wore this on a recent trip and it was totes awesome – one less thing to remember to pack!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Hoodie shirt with integrated earbuds
-Works with most mp3 players/mobile phones
-Earbuds embedded in hoodie drawstrings
-Headphone jack ends in front pocket
-Dynamic sound
-Available in small, medium, or large
-Machine washable (even earbuds)
Do you spend a lot of time thinking about what would happen if someone broke into your house? A friend of mine is constantly preparing for the zombie apocalypse, and while I think that’s a valiant effort, it’s probably a bit more realistic to shield yourself from potential burglars. There are so many vulnerable areas in your home that it can be a bit daunting to protect yourself at every possible angle, but you can make sure that your most precious valuables stay safe.
The key to making your home burglar-proof is of course a good offense like deadbolts and a security system, but what if they manage to get past those? You’d better arm yourself with a baseball bat and your favorite items with the Combination Lock Book Safe (Things You Never Knew Existed, $24.98). Sure, this book makes you look like a dictionary enthusiast, but it also protects your valuables with a secret safe compartment! This fake dictionary features a built-in steel box that is apparently large enough to store a handgun (if you were so inclined) and is protected by a 3-digit combination lock. Since most burglars are on a time clock, you’ll probably be able to fool them by storing your goodies in this cleverly disguised safe.
Unfortunately, you’ll be sacrificing the actual dictionary in favor of storing your stuff. Tough break.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 2.75″ x 8″ x 9.5″ (inside)
- -Hide goods in plain sight
- -Built in steel box
- -3 digit combination lock
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
Have you ever been mugged? These days, it seems like there’s so much temptation for street thieves that has nothing to do with the few dollars you have in your wallet. Who cares about a couple bucks when you could be walking around with a shiny new watch on your wrist or listening to some tunes on a brand new iPod? It would certainly suck to lose those materialistic things, but it would be even worse to have information stolen. Photos and documents are a goldmine!
They always say to just give a mugger what he wants, but what if he doesn’t know what to look for? The USB Locket (Generate Design, $229.00) looks like a generic piece of jewelry but actually encases a small flash drive. So instead of carrying your secrets around on a flash drive tucked into your purse or computer bag, why not put it where it would really be safe: around your neck. The locket comes in a standard size or mini and both styles include the 2GB flash drive that fits perfectly inside.
If your lovely lady is a techie nerd, then this is the perfect gift to completely geek her out.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 1.5″ x 1.5″ x 0.5″ (regular); 1.5″ x 1″ x 0.5″ (mini)
-Length: 30″ (regular); 24″ (mini)
-Capacity: 2GB flash drive
-Includes locket and flash drive
-Brass chain
-Locket made of satin gold plated brass
