My house is always cold in the winter. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t ever seem to get warm enough. I can turn my heat up to 80 degrees, yet you’ll still find me huddled underneath a blanket and shivering. In fact, it could be freakishly hot outside (like today) and I’d still have the heat cranked all the way up. Maybe it’s me?
Whether you’re shivering or sweating, the Heating and Cooling Vent Fan (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $59.95) will help you find that temperature homeostasis. This fan fits into existing vent structures to provide an energy efficient solution to ineffective ventilation systems. In English? It’ll save you money because you won’t have to turn your central air up to Russian Tundra just to get some relief in the height of summer. Samesies for your heating bill in the winter months. A built-in temperature sensor indicates your heating and cooling needs to the fan system, which then pulls air from the ventilation system and pushes it toward the room. Basically, it does what your vents should be doing but probably aren’t.
I’m too cheap (and lazy) to install a dual thermostat in my house, so I think this thing is the cat’s meow.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 4″ x 10″, 4″ x 12″, 6″ x 10″, 6″ x 12″
-Fan redirects and increases air flow
-Slides into existing vent openings
-Easy assembly
-Save on energy bill
-6′ cord included
-Available in almond or brown
-1 year warranty
Sometimes I feel like I take entertaining a bit too seriously. I mean, I’m the type of person who goes all out for theme parties, making sure that every snack served pertains to event or else it has no business being there at all. Needless to say, I’ve become somewhat of a snack connoisseur and yes, I am judging your snack selection.
Just because you go through all the trouble of making sure you have a wide selection of tasty treats, doesn’t mean that your sustenance will be a success. For that to happen, you not only need to make sure you have enough food but that it stays in optimal condition for the duration of your get together. What you need is the Electric Heated Dip and Chip Snack Tray (Kegworks, $39.95). What good is your homemade queso dip if it congeals into a cold clump halfway through your party? With its removable ceramic dip bowl and heating base with inline power switch, your dips and spreads will stay hot all night long. Sure, you could break out a mini crock pot and a separate chip bowl but why go through all that trouble when you this duo does the same thing all in one convenient location? And if you’re not all about hot dips all the time, you can use this snack tray without the heating base to serve cold dips as well.
I have another chips ‘n’ dip tray that looks just like this one, only it plays “La Cucaracha” every time you open the dip bowl.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 14″ x 3.25″ x 14″
-Capacity: 21oz (dip bowl)
-Electrical: 120VAC, 60Hz, 0.22A
-Keeps dips tasty and warm
-Heating base with attached inline power switch
-Retro 1950s design
-Removable ceramic dip bowl
-Plastic melamine chip tray
-Use without heating base for cold dips
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
