Hair styling is no joke. It is seriously an art – I mean it. If you’ve ever tried to replicate a certain hairstyle that you’ve seen in a magazine or that someone has even created on your own head, you know that it’s not as easy as it looks. There are all sorts of potions and products out there to turn curly hair into sleek strands or pin straight hair into corkscrews as well as quite a few heat-infused styling contraptions. Put them all together and you’ve got a recipe for success, if you can corral all these implements.
Yes, stylists benefit from being able to fully visualize their workspace without having to tilt their head, but they also have a place for everything so they’re never scrambling to find a clip while a hot iron starts smoking. Organization is key and you can achieve that with the Hot Iron and Hair Dryer Holder (Hammacher Schlemmer, $39.95). Instead of setting your scorching hot flat iron on the counter (where it’s sure to leave a mark), why not set it off to the side with this clip? Not only are your saving precious counter space so it’s easier to maneuver while getting ready, but you probably won’t accidentally bump into the business end of said styling tool (although a burn completes just about any look). The spring-loaded clip fits onto most surfaces and features a rubber tip that will stay in place without ruining your counter or table.
Girls in my high school used to blame hickeys on curling iron burns. Not sure how many people actually bought that.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 8.5″ x 3.25″ x 5″
-Secures styling tools
-Keeps hot implements off countertops
-Frees up counter space
-Convenient access
-Spring loaded clamp
-Grips surfaces up to 1.5″ thick
-Made of plated steel with chrome finish
I have a tendency to miss a lot of calls. It wouldn’t seem that odd except I have a cell phone, so you’d think its portability would negate that. I tend to leave my phone places far away from where I am – if I’m upstairs the phone is downstairs and vice versa. This doesn’t seem like a problem when I’m in the car (seeing as there’s not a whole lot of places to go), yet it is. I never know where to put my phone so it doesn’t end up underneath the seat so it usually goes in the glove compartment, never to be heard from again. Well, at least until I reach my destination.
What I need is a place just for my phone, like the Mobi Valet (Taylor Gifts, $24.98). Instead of trying to share space inside my cup holder with my morning coffee and a generous amount of change, I would much rather stick my mobile in this snug pocket. The removable pouch attaches to anywhere in your car with self-adhering Velcro and accommodates all phone sizes. Heck, you can even charge your phone while it sits in its own little car seat!
No, this product will not park your car for you.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 5″ x 4.5″ x 1″
-Removable phone case
-Attaches with Velcro
-Compatible with all phone sizes
-Prevents loss and damage
-Available in brown or black
-Made of rich faux leather
I used to read a lot, as in a book a week. Sometimes I would even finish a book in a day because I was simply too enthralled to think about putting it down. With the exception of a recent foray into Harry Potter (I read all seven books in about a month), I’ve been pretty lax about my reading. It’s not like I’m trying to fill a quota or anything, but I think the easiest way to get excited about literature again is to just dive in.
Soon to be my favorite new reading accessory, the Book Rest Lamp (Generate Design, $79.00) is super cute. Yes, it’s a house-shaped lamp that gives off just the right amount of light for a bit of bedtime reading, but it’s also a book rest. Instead of having to stick a bookmark in every time you need to put your latest tome down, why not gently set it down on top of this soft beacon of light? Granted, you’ll eventually have to resort to a bookmark if you want to read on the go and it’s unclear exactly how long you can leave flammable materials on top of a heat source without starting a fire.
File this one under “Exercise Common Sense” and we’ll all be fine.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4.5″ x 5.9″ x 5.7″
-Frosted glass lamp/book rest
-Light output is 600 lumen
-Light bulb included
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 was off yesterday so I decided that it would be a good day to cook something a little more involved than my traditionally half-assed dinner creations. And since it was bitterly cold out, I thought stew would be the perfect meal for such an occasion. I got out all my ingredients and started with the potatoes. In no time flat, I had turned my kitchen into a trash receptacle. There were potato peelings all over the counter, the floor, even myself. Sure, I could have dragged my trash can to where I was and peeled the potato hovering over it, but I’ve lost many a potato that way.
The Counter Edge Cutting Board with Collapsible Scrap Bin (Amazon, $24.99) allows you to go about your cooking preparations without turning your kitchen into a compost heap. The cutting board itself features an L-shaped design that easily fits over sinks or counters and has non-skid feet to ensure that it stays put. The removable scrap bin attaches to the edge of the cutting board with a seal between the two so that even liquid rich foods won’t leak out onto the floor. The bin’s four cup capacity is more than enough for most cooking preparations and the set is designed to collapse for snug storage. You might have to get accustomed to standing a little further back from your vegetables, but at least clean up will be a breeze!
In case you were wondering, my dinner was stew-licious.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11.5″ x 15.5″ x 1.8″
-Integrated bin collects scraps
-Board fits over sink and counter
-Bin attaches to board
-Bin has 4 cup capacity
-Collapses for easy storage
-Dishwasher safe
-Patent pending design
