Society has basically run out of ideas. Whether it’s music and movies or some other kind of media, there seems to be an absence of original thought as of late. In fact, it seems there aren’t even a whole lot of unique gadgets out there, just a lot that claim to be improvements on the original. Some genuinely are better than their predecessors. Others, not so much.
It’s up to you whether you think the Bodum Bistro Flatbed 4-Slice Toaster (Amazon, $69.95) is better than the traditional two-slice model or just a hunk of overpriced junk. Before you judge though, let’s go over the facts. It’s got to be hard to rethink a toaster, but the general idea is that a toaster’s walls were way too confining when it came to large bread items. This design cuts out the walls completely and gives you a flat toasting surface that works with any size or type of bread. If you’re working with a standard piece of bread, you can fit up to four slices on at a time but you are limited to toasting one side at a time so your total crisping time may increase. That’s pretty much the only difference here as all the other usual toaster amenities can be found: variable shade settings, defrost and reheat options, slide out crumb tray, and on/off indicator light. You’ve got to admit, it does a lot cooler than your mom’s toaster.
A lot of people like to complain about how you can’t use this toaster under a cabinet and that it doesn’t have any safety restrictions. I guess this is a toaster for capable adults then.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 14 3/5 x 10 1/5 x 3
-Flatbed toaster with stainless steel heating surface
-Toasts 1 side at a time
-Toasts up to 4 slices at a time
-Works with any size or type of bread
-Variable shade settings from 1 to 9
-Defrost and reheat options
-Slide out crumb tray
-On/off indicator light
-Made of stainless steel with black silicone finish
-1 year limited warranty
I have a friend whose feet are always cold. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 degrees out and he’s wearing six pairs of socks with his feet stuffed in hiking boots, he’ll still complain about his cold feet. Apparently there’s nothing wrong with him (well, at least his feet), so he just has to suck it up and deal. Then again, if having cold feet is your worst problem, I’d say you’re doing all right.
If you also have a cold foot affliction, then perhaps you’d be interested in the Mat Walk (Generate Design, $59.00). What looks like a regular bath mat is actually a bath mat with built-in slippers. Picture this: you get out of a nice hot shower, only to find your body heat rushing out through your toes. What are you to do? Well, if you had this bath mat then you could just stuff your feet into the slipper compartments while you went about getting ready for the day. Please be careful walking though – it’s a bit like wandering around with your shoelaces tied together.
Yes, you will look like an idiot.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 23.25″ x 37.5″
-Bathmat with built in slippers
-Keeps feet warm
-Made of cotton
dfdfsxdf rong with him (well, at least his feet), so he just has to suck it up and deal. Then again, if having cold feet is your worst problem, I’d say you’re doing all right.
If you also have a cold foot affliction, then perhaps you’d be interested in the Mat Walk (Generate Design, $59.00). What looks like a regular bath mat is actually a bath mat with built-in slippers. Picture this: you get out of a nice hot shower, only to find your body heat rushing out through your toes. What are you to do? Well, if you had this bath mat then you could just stuff your feet into the slipper compartments while you went about getting ready for the day. Please be careful walking though – it’s a bit like wandering around with your shoelaces tied together.
Yes, you will look like an idiot.
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 23.25″ x 37.5″
-Bathmat with built in slippers
-Keeps feet warm
-Made of cotton
Seriously, what is up with this weather? Spring is allegedly officially upon us, yet it’s miserable outside and even snowing in some places! I’m especially upset by this bitterly cold start to the season because I was planning on saving some money by turning my thermostat down. Those few days of sunshine and warmth were just a tease!
Instead of cranking the heat up to 80 degrees and pretending you’re on a tropical vacation (trust me, you’ll never get rid of the sand), why not try making you home more cozy without the high cost? The Instant Chair Warmer (Taylor Gifts, $14.99) attaches to any chair and uses your own body heat to instantly warm you. That’s right, no batteries or electricity needed because the soft fleece-like outer shell of the chair warmer traps your body heat and reflects it back to you. And unless you’re a cold-blooded reptile, that’s a balmy 98.6 degrees of delicious body heat for you to snuggle up in.
What I wouldn’t give for a sofa-sized blanket of this material!
3 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 60″ x 27″
-Traps body heat to warm you instantly
-No batteries or electricity needed
-Save on energy costs
-Secures to chair with elastic band
-Mylar backing and fleece like outer shell
-Made of acrylic fleece
Have you been outside lately? If you haven’t let me let you in on a little secret: it’s cold out there! Seriously though, it’s more than a bit chilly outside as we coast into the tail end of winter. One of the worst things about cold weather (besides freezing your butt off) is how hard it is to breathe in that frosty air. And if the wind picks up, forget about it. Remember the last time you had the misfortune of breathing at the same time as the wind whipped by your face? It’s like choking on air – wonderful, right?
You could probably get away with wearing a ski mask or a scarf that covers your face, but even then you can’t fully escape the clutches of winter air. The Subzero Warm Breath Mask (Hammacher Schlemmer, $59.95) not only protects your lungs from cold, dry air but it also heats it. Using a microbe-resistant ventilation chamber, the mask keeps moisture off your face while at the same time warming it up to temperatures 40 to 60 degrees warmer than outside air. The mask allows you to take full breaths, which then traps small pockets of warm exhalation and allows you to breathe normally.
Sure, you’ll look a little strange (ok, a lot strange) wearing this contraption, but at least you’ll be able to breathe easy, right? Anyway, it’s got to be better than wearing a ski mask and having people stare at you like you’re gonna rob them.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Humidifies and warms winter air
-Up to 80% humidity
-Temperatures 40° F to 60° F warmer than outside air
-Mask is wind resistant Polartec fleece
-Hook and loop flaps fit over goggles and helmets
-Made of medical grade microbe resistant polyurethane
-One size fits all
