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
I can’t stand overpaying for stuff. I mean, it’s not like I everything I buy is on sale, but I make it a point not to buy something that is obviously overpriced. There are some times when that’s seemingly impossible, like at a baseball game or the airport. That’s fine, as long as you make sure you’re not shelling out a couple bucks a day just to get a bottle of water when you can get all the H2O you want from the water fountain for free.
Because you can’t take a water fountain with you, the Foldable Water Bottle Set (Things You Never Knew Existed, $9.98) is a great alternative. Lots of people are now carrying around reusable water bottles instead of buying disposable ones and that’s great for the environment. However, they’re usually pretty bulky, so you might decide to leave your fancy water bottle at home when it doesn’t jive with your routine. You won’t have that problem with these water bottles because they flatten and fold up when not in use. A water bottle you can stuff in your pocket – crazy, no? When you’re thirsty, you can unfold the bottle, fill it up (for free!), and it’ll stand upright.
It’s pretty bad when beer and water are the same price.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Pocket friendly water bottle
-Includes carabiner clip and 2 bottles
-Stand upright when full
-Flattens and folds when empty
-Assorted colors
-Freezable
-Washable
-Reusable
I used to live a fairly gadget-free lifestyle. It’s not like I didn’t own any technological toys, I just wasn’t consumed by them. Now it seems like I can’t go five minutes without checking my phone, playing a game online, or responding to Facebook update (much like everyone else I know). What’s the worst part about being a slave to technology? Well, you’re pretty much guaranteed never to be satisfied, but more importantly the battery life on these gadgets blow!
I know someone who’s never without their iPad so I can only imagine how often it has to be charged – I’m thinking on the daily. The Solar Charging iPad Case (Hammacher Schlemmer, $199.95) will only encourage you to use your iPad more because you won’t even have to dig out that power cord anymore. Not only does the case protect your beloved Apple product, but it provides up to ten days of use without a standard charge. How’s that possible? Solar power, that’s how! This isn’t just any solar power though – the case uses organic photovoltaic ink to convert both indoor and outdoor light into electricity. I mean, who’s gonna leave their iPad outside all day so it could catch some rays? Now you can simply switch on a lamp and your techno-wonder will charge up in no time.
Angry Birds forever!
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11″ x 8″ x 1″
-Weight: 1.5lbs
-Solar powered iPad case
-Provides up to 10 days use without charge
-Powered by organic photovoltaic ink
-Converts indoor and outdoor light into electricity
-Built in stainless steel stand
-Built in HDMI output and USB port
-Compatible with iPad2 and iPad3
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)
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)
