News, reviews and articles about home and kitchen products.
Products like the Dropcam, now called Nest Cam, have made home security cameras a very popular gadget category. I have a Dropcam Pro that I have really really enjoyed using, but since they switched hands to Nest, the web-based viewer feels sluggish and there’s also the monthly cloud subscription cost which makes it prohibitive to […]
Piper nv security camera review Read More
Each month my electric company (Duke Energy) sends me an energy report to let me know how my electricity usage compares to similar homes in my area. Ever since they began sending these reports, my house has always been shown to use more electricity, which translates into paying higher bills. Even after switching most of
Cree LED bulbs are helping me use less electricity each month #sponsored Read More
As I’m sure I’ve stated before, I’m a pretty huge fan of the Internet of Things and smart home technology; however, my number one priority in life is keeping my family safe. Fortunately for me, I get to combine these two things by using home security cameras. I currently own two Foscam’s, but they aren’t
Oco security camera review Read More
You may be wondering what a bean bag chair has to do with gadgets, but if you look back on the years, we’ve reviewed a few here. The first thing I think of when I think of a bean bag chair is something that belongs in a game room, is small, and has lots of
Sumo Sultan big bean bag chair review Read More
When you are concerned with mosquito-borne illnesses like the West Nile virus present here in Texas, finding effective ways to repel mosquitoes in addition to the standard repellent sprays (containing DEET) is of great importance. The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent appliance is an outdoor device used to repel mosquitos within a 15′ x 15′ area. I found
Thermacell Mosquito Repellent review Read More
When watching movies or TV shows, I will sometimes see a character flip a big power switch and think to myself how fun it would be to do the same. Well, now it is possible. Nicksprints85 uses 3D printing to make such things as this Frankenstein Light Switch Plate, hence the switch plate is made
Bring your lights to life with style using this Frankenstein Light Switch Plate Read More
Back in June 2013, I wrote about this neat product on Kickstarter. I thought is was a rather interesting take on an issue I had seen while working. The project was the Knife Fork & Spoon. Unfortunately, it did not reach its funding goal and was not produced. Well, it’s back. The Knife Fork &
Knife Fork & Spoon, again Read More
My wife and her ‘wine club’ meet most Friday evenings to relax and enjoy a bottle or two of some new wine they have discovered. They have done this for years. So when Julie has some new wine gadget that looks like it has the potential to be fun for me and the Club, I
Aervana electric wine aerator review Read More
 One of my biggest organizational battles around our home is with all of our cables. To organize them I usually end up using twist ties or velcro cable wraps that make the task take longer than it should. Cable ties are good for one use, so what if I just need to let out
Pixi multi-purpose ties help you keep it together Read More
The Nest thermostat is a programmable and smartphone controllable thermostat that learns as you use it. It’s obviously a cool accessory for your home, but its physical look might not fit every home’s decorating style. That’s where the Smart Finish mounting bracket comes in. Made of sustainably harvested European Beech wood and available in a
Smart Finish puts a traditional twist on the Nest thermostat Read More
As technology gets smarter and smarter so do our home security systems. One example of this that I have recently come across is the Notion system, formerly a successful Kickstarter project. Like most home security systems, Notion relies on sensors, but unlike most security systems, the Notion’s single sensor is built to do the job
Notion home monitoring system is not your dad’s home security system Read More
Buying a vacuum can be a lot like buying a new car. Like cars, vacuums are expensive, come in sub-compact, compact, mid-sized and full-sized models with all sorts of options that you may or may not need. I’ve reviewed quite a few vacuums in the past few years, but keep looking for my holy grail of
Eureka Brushroll Clean with SuctionSeal AS3401A vacuum review Read More
Minimalists will love this product because it’s a mirror that conceals a big screen TV. Use it as a mirror by day and at night it becomes a TV. The TV Mirror mounts over your existing TV and uses beamsplitter TV mirror technology to turn the black screen of your powered off TV into a
Hide your TV behind this magic mirror Read More
If you’re a fan of the Dark Knight, this Batman logo shaped mirror should be perfect for you. At least until your wife makes you take it down 😉 The Batman mirror is based on the circa 2003 logo – if you keep up with things like that. It’s made out of acrylic so it
This Batman mirror is perfect for your bat man cave Read More
Am I a dork because I like this spork? NO!  However, I may be one because of that silly rhyme.  Moving on, this simple little gadget is small enough to fit in your palm and can be taken with you camping, or everyday to work so you don’t have to use flimsy plastic that breaks,
For the minimalist in you, I present Kuma Read More
If you’re reading this post, you probably share a common problem that all gadget packrats share. We have lots of devices but no good way to store them while they are not being used. I keep my older MacBook Air on the end table next to my side of our double Lazy Boy couch, Jeanne
Storage for laptops and tablets that looks like furniture Read More
Whether you have small children, dexterity problems or you just like to be prepared for potential liquid spillage accidents, SipSnap lids have you covered (see what I did there?). SipSnaps are colorful lids made of high-quality, food-grade silicone that is BPA and phthalate-free. The one size fits all lids can stretch to fit almost any
SipSnap drink lids make any cup or jar spill-proof Read More
I have never had a WiFi security camera, but it has been on my list of things to try. I’ve read Julie’s review of the FLIR FX Security camera and DropCam Pro and came to the conclusion that those seem to be the security cameras to beat. When the D-link HD WiFi Camera was offered
D-link HD WiFi Camera DCS-935L review Read More
Want a wine fridge, but you just don’t have room for one in your tiny kitchen?  Well, now you do have room with the Ultra Slim Wine Refrigerator.  Measuring only 37.5″ tall x 9.8″ wide x 20.25″ deep, it can fit in places where standard wine fridges could never fit.  Despite its small size, it has two-zone
Now you do have room for a wine fridge! Read More
My family and I live on 10 acres in Washington State and while we live about 20 miles of downtown Seattle, our place is pretty rural. Many critters and creatures live on and transit through our trees and fields all year long. This is especially true during the spring, when some years the deer are like
Havahart Spray Away Elite II review Read More