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
Are you bummed that the holiday season has come to a close? Good news, you can still enjoy the winter season and all the lovely frozen precipitation it brings. What? You say there’s no snow left because global warming has essentially turned our planet into a microwave? Hmm, that could be a problem.
Unlike most cold weather companions, the Year ‘Round Sled (Hammacher Schlemmer, $89.95) knows no bounds. Sure, you could use it like a normal sled, blissfully gliding down a snow-covered hill with ease while your friends frown in disappointment due to their inferior sledding devices. But what if I told you that you could have the same experience, only in the summer? Wouldn’t that just blow your mind? Grab a mop because that’s exactly what I’m saying. Using removable ice mold technology, you simply fill the molds with water, freeze, and then reattach. As the ice melts, it creates a slick surface on the bottom of the sled that interacts with outdoor elements like dirt to create a friction-free ride.
Snow? Where we’re going, we don’t need snow. We do need ice though.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 38″ x 20.5″ 6″
-Weight: 10.5 lbs
-Year ’round sledding
-Removable ice molds provide half hour of sledding
-Best when used on short grass
-For riders up to 200 lbs
-Made of durable high density polyethylene
Are you a bit bummed because it doesn’t feel quite like the holiday season has even started, yet alone almost over? I bet I can pinpoint the cause: lack of snow. Now, unless you live in the tundra (aka Minnesota), you probably haven’t seen that much snowfall this year. For some people that’s a blessing – no driveways to shovel, treacherous roads to travel, or ice patches to slip on. For the rest of us, it’s kinda a downer. I mean, Christmas without any snow? That’s unheard of!
The Light Flurries Instant Snowflakes Machine (Things You Never Knew Existed, $79.98) is guaranteed to make your Christmas a White Christmas. Alright, so it won’t actually make it snow, but it will create the illusion of snow, and that’s all that really matters. Using a patented rotating ball light system, the device mimics the look of thousands of snowflakes. You can control the speed and intensity of the snowflakes, so you can decide if you want a light sprinkle of snowflakes or a flurry frenzy. You can create snowflakes both indoors and outdoors, but seriously, who ever heard of it snowing indoors? That would just be weird (even weirder than snowflake light projections).
Gift givability factor: High. A lot us haven’t even seen a snowfall yet this year (yes, I’m even talking about northerners), so the odds are pretty good that you won’t be having a “White Christmas.” With this handy device, anyone can create a faux winter wonderland without the hassle of actual snow. I’m sure folks in Minnesota would trade their mountains of snow for this guy any day of the week.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 10″ x 11″ x 7″
-Patented light system mimics snowfall
-Rotating ball with random light patterns
-Projects realistic size snowflakes
-Select speed to control intensity
-Indoor or outdoor use
-Easy setup and storage
-AC powered
Yesterday we talked about being cold, specifically being outside in the cold weather and what you can do to remedy that situation. Today I thought we’d discuss how to eliminate that winter chill whilst inside the comfort of your own home. You know what I’m talking about, how some rooms in your place just won’t get warm, no matter how high you crank up the thermostat. It might be a drafty window or a poorly insulated door, or perhaps something as simple as furniture placement. That’s right, a couch placed directly over a heating vent is going to prevent you from receiving any of that heat. Crazy, right?
Because it can be a pain to rearrange your entire living room according to where the vents are located, the Vent Extender (Taylor Gifts, $9.98) is key. This extender fits over basically any vent and redirects the air, meaning you can put your couch right over top a vent and still feel the heat. It easily fits beneath furniture and can extend anywhere from 20 to 36 inches, allowing you to set your heat at a lower temperature that’s not only good for the environment, but also for your wallet.
The only kind of vent I can safely say this definitely won’t work for is a ceiling vent. Then again, you’re not putting your furniture on the ceiling, so that shouldn’t be a problem. And if you are, I think you have a whole other set of more pressing issues.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 11″ x 1″
-Extends vent area and redirects air
-Extends from 20″ – 36″
-Fits beneath furniture
-Clips to vent
-Energy saving
-Made of clear plastic
