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’ve never been much of a napper. I’m one of those people that has a hard enough time trying to get to sleep at night, let alone for only an hour or two in the middle of the day. It’s not to say that I haven’t tried. Oh, how I’ve tried! I usually just end up laying there, thinking about all the other things I should probably be doing instead of attempting this fruitless nap. I’ll admit, it’s somewhat of a self-defeating strategy.
I think the biggest problem I have when it comes to napping is that I’m so focused on how long I have to sleep that I can’t clear my mind. The Napper (Amazon, $14.99) understands the stresses of everyday life and the need to take a relaxing snooze. Well, at least the person who created this charming alarm clock understands that because they’ve added a delightful feature to the traditional alarm: preset snooze buttons! Instead of having to hit the snooze button over and over or reset your perpetual alarm, simply hit the snooze time of your choice. You can choose from 15, 30, or even 60 minutes of uninterrupted snooze time by barely lifting a finger.
You know that expression, “You snooze, you lose?” Well, I think it should be, “You snooze, you win.”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Preset snooze timers
-Includes time and standard alarm clock settings
-Snooze for 15, 30, or 60 minutes
I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve ruined dinner because I had something to do that would “only take a minute” – it always takes longer than that, and by the time I’d get back to the kitchen it’d almost be on fire. Setting a timer seems like it would work except when I’m running around different parts of my house I can’t exactly see the stove, if you know what I mean. I need a quick and easy visual cue to keep myself on track…
…which is exactly what the Color Alert Kitchen Timers (Vat19, $9.99 – $14.99) do. Instead of relying solely on a faint beeping noise, each of these timers uses color codes to signal how much time is left before your kitchen bursts into flames (or, dinner is done). Whether you choose analog or digital, the method is the same: simply twist the timer clockwise to add time or counterclockwise to deduct it. The timer has a 60 minute set time maximum and will glow green when there are more than 10 minutes remaining. Once you hit that 10 minute mark, the color switches to yellow and will stay that way until you whittle your way down to a minute. At this point the timer will glow red, sounding an alarm to signal the end of the allotted time and continue to glow red for another full minute. Basically as long as you can remember to look at the timer, you and your food should be fine.
“Danger, Will Robinson! Your souffle is burning!”
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 2.5″
-Color changing timer alert:
-Green: 10+ minutes remaining
-Yellow: 1-10 minutes remaining
-Red: 0-60 seconds remaining
-Turn clockwise to set time
-Available in analog or digital
-60 minute maximum timer duration
-Digital timer can be paused or restarted
-Digital timer features 12 hour clock
-Batteries included
