It might seem like I have a lot of gadgets, probably because I do. If you’re a technology addict like myself then you know that it doesn’t matter how many gadgets you have, it matters which ones you don’t. There are some electronics that I would love to own, but I’m not made of money (neither is my mother, just ask her) so I can’t afford to buy them. I’ve always wanted one of those bladeless fans. I don’t know why, it’s not like a bladed fan doesn’t do the trick. I just want one. But I can’t justify spending a couple hundred dollars on a fan when I could use it for things like food and electricity.
If your technological aspirations far outweigh your monetary value, sometimes you have to compromise. The USB Bladeless Cooling Fan (SkyMall, $19.99) utilizes the same awesome science as those big bladeless fans except it’s a fraction of the price. Oh, and also smaller. But other than that, the two are pretty much the same. Bladelessness still means ultra-quiet and easy to clean, not to mention incredibly safe for youngsters and klutzes alike. As an added bonus, this fan consumes half the energy of a conventional fan so you’re once again single-handedly saving the planet.
It’s almost like you’re part of the Avengers. Almost.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 6.8″ x 5.1″ x 10.7″
-Portable electric bladeless desk fan
-USB cable included
-Smooth air
-Quiet
-Easy to clean
-Energy saving
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
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back to work. This is never an easy thing to do after a long weekend, much less an extended holiday break. Whether the break is long or short, I think the key to productivity is caffeine. I can safely assume that I’m not alone on this one.
The appeal of caffeine is that it perks you up when you’re feeling less than perky, so it should go without saying that anything that can give your morning a jump start is a good thing. The Morning Mug (Generate Design, $29.00) manages to brighten your day without being overly cutesy or in-your-face about it. At first glance, this ordinary black mug has a white sleeping face printed on it, but that all changes once you pour your hot beverage of choice into it. Coffee or tea (it doesn’t matter as long as it’s hot) will change this black mug to a white one with a new facial expression printed on it. Much like yourself after getting a caffeine jolt, the mug will display a look that can only be described as serene alertness.
Isn’t it nice to have someone to wake up? Especially when that someone know not to disturb you until you’ve had your coffee.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.75″ x 3.25″
-Mug changes color when hot
-Cold mug is black
-Hot mug is white
The first thing I look for when scoping out a place to live in the number and placement of outlets. For some reason, contractors don’t think these aspects are important and do things like put one outlet in the living room, but seven in a tiny kitchen (all right above the counter top). Since I can’t make outlets appear out of thin air right where I want them (if only!), I have to make do with what I have which pretty much means a lot of messy extension cords all over the place. Or…
…you could use one totally awesome extension cord instead, like the Pivot Power Surge Protector (Vat19, $29.99). Not just an extension cord but also a surge protector, this gadget protects your favorite electronics from getting fried during a storm or other electrical interruption with 672 joules of surge protection. Six outlets independently rotate along the power strip to easily fit around furniture and other objects and the plug itself sits nearly flush with the wall to make it compatible with just about every living/work space. And if your outlet is as far away from its desired electronic device as mine is, don’t fret because the cord on this thing is six feet long!
Just as it’s never a good idea to plug extension cords into one another, it’s also inadvisable to plug one surge protector into another. In this case two is not better than one, it’s a fire hazard.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 17.25″ x 2.25″ x 1.75″ (straightened)
-6′ cord
-Pivots around furniture
-6 outlets independently rotate
-672 joules of surge protection
-Plug sits nearly flush with wall
-Available in white or black
-ETL listed
Lawn work blows. Not only is it unpleasant, but it’s usually so long and tedious that you have to save it for one of your days off. Seriously, who wants to spend their day off from work doing more work? One thing I’ve completely given up on is raking leaves. It takes forever and you’re constantly bending over to rake and shovel up the leaves – basically, you spend entire the day trying not to throw out your back. And who are leaves harming anyways? Nobody.
If you’re one of those neat freaks that simply can’t let the leaves fall where they may, then the Amazing Rake (Taylor Gifts, $39.98) is gonna hook you up with a super simple way to clean up your yard. With a normal rake, you have to slowly gather leaves into a pile and then try to shovel them up, snow style. Sounds simple, but it’s not. Leaves are not snow. Leaves blow in multiple directions at the slightest gust of wind. This rake features a grabbing mechanism that allows you to rake, grab, and lift leaves in one smooth motion. Best of all, you don’t have to keep bending down to pick up the leaves. Finally, a rake for the lazy!
Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to actually do the lawn work yourself. That’s what landscapers are for.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 54″ x 17″ x 9″
-Rake, grip, lift, and bag in one motion
-Prevents back pain
-Keeps hands clean
-Made of copolymer
