News, reviews and articles about home and kitchen products.
Janet recently turned me on to the Tiny House Nation TV show on the FYI channel. While I know I will never be able to talk Jeanne into downsizing to a 500 or smaller square foot house, I can’t help but dream about minimizing and simplifying all our junk. I love watching the Tiny House […]
Save space with collapsible buckets Read More
Ever since my granddaughter visited Disney World, she’s been asking when I was going to put “Fairy Lights” in the trees around the house. I’ve been able to deflect, usually with the promise of ice cream, but now I can answer her request using the Night Stars light. Although my initial thoughts were “who needs
Viatek Night Stars Landscape Lighting review Read More
SmartPlanet has a line of lunch containers that flatten up for compact carrying home after the lunch is eaten. More importantly for people with not much storage in the kitchen, they don’t take up a lot of storage space, either. The Collapsible Eco Meal Kits have BPA-free silicone bases that open to hold your food,
These SmartPlanet lunch containers expand to hold your lunch and flatten for the trip home Read More
There are a lot of home automation devices out there, each with their own app. As you work towards the smart home of your dreams, before long, you’ll have multiple apps for your multiple devices. You can simplify things by controlling everything with the SmartThings Hub and iOS/Android app (you’ll need at least iOS 7.0
Simplify your home automation with the SmartThings Hub and app Read More
Who doesn’t need a desk lamp? How about an energy efficient LED desk lamp? Often when I think of LED lighting, I think of the sometimes harsh blue tinted lights, but the TaoTronics Elune Dimmable LED Desk Lamp has several light settings so it is time to set my presuppositions aside and give it a
TaoTronics Elune Dimmable LED Desk Lamp review Read More
There’s a new-ish technology being used in many items, and I’m kinda digging it. It’s the microsuction tech being used by case and stand makers for securing items to smooth surfaces. The folks at Lynktec use it to hold their new GripStand to the back of an iPad or tablet – or even a flat, smooth
Lynktec GripStand tablet stand review Read More
Do it yourselfers, handy men and women and just about anyone who needs to measure and mark something will want to check out the PencilMan tape measure from Smith Works Tools. The PencilMan is a 25 foot metal ruler that features an easy to use thumb activated tape brake lever, a belt clip and best
Tape measure + pencil = PencilMan Read More
The Neolid Twizz is a plastic 12 ounce cup made in France of light weight, waterproof and insulating plastic. So far that sounds pretty boring right? The interesting feature of this cup is the specially designed twisting lid that opens and closes with a twist. The lid opens like an iris or camera shutter and
Neolid Twizz is a travel cup with a twist Read More
The ClockONE from Twelve24 is simple and beautiful. It’s a wall mountable 39.37 x 13.78 inches (1000 x 350 mm) clock that features a digital display that uses E-ink. The clock runs for one year on one CR2450 button battery and mounts to the wall with a magnet. I love the look of it and
ClockONE is an insanely cool E-ink clock with an equally insane price tag Read More
When you’re using a pair of pliers in a dimly lit area, a flashlight can be real handy. But holding a flashlight in one hand while using the pliers in the other hand can be both inconvenient and awkward. An alternative could be a hands-free head lamp, but then you still have use two devices instead
ReadyMax offers hand tools with built-in lights Read More
Or at least that is what the SpreadTHAT! Heated Butter Knife claims to be able to do. The unique thing about this hi-tech kitchen gadget is that it doesn’t use any electricity to warm the knife. It uses a non-toxic titanium coating to conduct the heat from your hand down to the blade, allowing you to
No more waiting, now you can spread butter right from the fridge Read More
I just put an Elfa shelving unit in my tiny kitchen with no counter space. I now have a place to work while preparing food, but plugging in my little KitchenAid chopper requires me to crawl under the unit and reach behind the water cooler to plug it in. I was thinking about getting a
No more crawling under the desk to plug things in with the Wall Mounted Outlet Extender Read More
Julie reviewed the SodaStream a few years ago and determined it was an economical way to make your own sodas at home. It gives you the option to make regular, diet, and caffeine-free sodas and flavored waters, but it did look a bit utilitarian. Big deal, you might say, but there are some people out
KitchenAid brings a whole new look to the SodaStream Sparkling Beverage Maker Read More
I have a set of Philips Hue lights that I got for Christmas last year that can light up my living room and foyer with white light or with colored lights – whatever I choose. I can define light “recipes” where I can make each Hue bulb whatever color I want so set the mood
Control your Philips Hue lights without a smart device Read More
I reviewed the Belkin WeMo Smart Home Automation Switch about a year ago, and at the time, you really needed an iOS device to control the products. There was an Android app, but it was in beta, but Belkin announced late last month that the Android app is ready. Just like with the iOS app
The Android app for Belkin’s WeMo line of home automation products is now available Read More
This cute little Borg Cube can keep your food or beverages at the proper temperature. It has a temperature switch, so you can refrigerate or warm the contents. It measures 11.5″ in each dimension on the outside, and the storage area inside is 6″ x 7.5″ x 8.25″. It’s more like a desk-top fridge than a
Your refreshments will be assimilated by the Borg Read More
We’ve mentioned a couple of different Unikia products for carrying your lunch in the past. One was a Compleat Robust lunch box, one was a Compleat FoodSkin that cradled your sandwich to keep it together as you assembled it (see related posts at the end of this article). Today’s product is the Compleat FoodBag. Like the
Microwave your lunch in your lunch bag and eat directly from it, too Read More
How many times have you dreamt about an easy way to carry around a bowl of soup with a sandwich? Your dreams have come true with the Ripple Bowl. The Ripple Bowl is a BPA free, microwave and dishwasher safe bowl with a convenient handle and a detachable bowl. The bowl locks and unlocks from
Is the Ripple a bowl with a detachable plate or a plate with a detachable bowl? Read More
Choosing the perfect office chair can be as difficult as choosing the perfect pair of sneakers, jeans, mattress or car. Everyone has their own criteria of what feels good to them. That’s probably why I’ve had the same office chair for the last 20 or more years. Wow, I didn’t even realize I’ve had the
Office Star Space REVV 86 Series SpaceFlex manager’s chair review Read More
Remember that time you were in a cave and your hands were all muddy, so you didn’t want to touch your headlamp to turn it on? Yeah, me neither… But the NEXT time you do find yourself in a similar situation, make sure you have an Olight H15S Wave rechargeable LED headlamp on your head.
The Olight H15S Wave headlamp is controlled with hand gestures Read More