If you’re out of gift ideas for the next party you’re invited to… you could skip the traditional flowers for the hostess/booze for the host and be original.
First up, make sure it’s not the kind of party where people just get drunk and pass out on the floor, and inquire about the state of the liquor cabinet. If it seems to have a wide variety of drinks, you’re set: get a set of Drinxx Recipe Playing Cards and make a lot of people happy.
Yes, playing poker might not be everyone’s favorite activity, but when you’ve got 52 cards, each with its own cocktail recipe, the possibilities are endless. The makers took the most distructive into consideration… and made the cards waterproof.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $7.49 on Organize.com.
Via uncrate
Condom storage solutions seem to be more important than I thought. And they even come in two types: stationary (like this dispenser, or this weird box) and mobile (condom compacts).
The Reflective Condom Wallet falls in the second category, but it’s not only meant to carry prophilactics around: the reflective strip should make it easier to find in case of “emergency”.
And aren’t you glad you can show your personality through the wallet style? It comes in neon (in case you want to flash it) or more subdued colors, and two sizes, for 3 or 6 condoms.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $5.39 BReflective.com.
Via FashionablyGeek
I hate to admit it, but… I need a set of DaysAgo Digital Day Counters.
It should be so simple. Open a can, remember when you did it, throw it away when it goes bad.
I got sick twice last month because of bad food. I’m just stupid like that.
The digital counter attaches to pots and jars with a suction cup and can count up to 99 hours or 99 days. (Hint: if it says 99 days, find a Ziploc bag, put the item inside and drop it in the deepest garbage can you can find.)
The uses are endless: cat litter (though you can smell-test that), fish tank water, plant watering… the list goes on and on.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.95 for a set of 2 on Amazon.com.
Via ShinyShiny
Finish the sentence: “I won’t be home, but I’ll leave the keys…”. Yes, everyone knows the standard places, it’s either under the doormat or under a flower pot. And “everyone” includes the robbers.
A bit of creativity won’t hurt. And, unless the robbers keep up with gadget blogs, the Sprinkler Key Hider is a fairly safe bet if you’re leaving the keys for someone to find.
Of course, it has a prerequisite: having a yard in which a sprinkler looks natural. If you’ve got that covered, this little box takes care of the rest: it’s watertight and large enough for one or more sets of keys. It even comes with a fake security firm decal, which can’t hurt. Would-be thieves might be deterred by the idea that they’ll trigger an alarm if they try to break in.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $6.63 on Amazon.com.
Via bookofjoe
The Spinmallow spins your marshmallows for you. Can you really be so lazy and not die?
Ok, ok. I’ll try to think positive here: it’s a funny device and people buy it for the hell of it or to entertain the kids. Why else would you need a faux-wood battery-powered skewer instead of… you know… finding a stick in the woods?
(Damn, who am I kidding. I tried to make marshmallows with a fork, on the stove, and all I got was charcoal. I need this! My friends tell me I’m so lazy I’m going to forget to breathe one day, so what’s one more proof…)
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.95 on Amazon.com.
Via BoingBoing
Why bother with complicated storage solutions when you can go simple and flexible? Literally flexible.
The GearGripper is a strip of soft posable foam, which can be bent in any shape to hold all sorts of objects. Ok, all sorts of gadgets, we know that’s what we need it for.
I’m all for things that help me control the chaos, even more so if they can be customized. How often do you find something that can hold your cell phone, your camera and your mp3 player, maybe even a pen or two? If you’re naturally a messy person, you can just put the Gripper on top of the desk and press things into it as you stop needing them. No opening of drawers, docking stations or God knows what…
And, since we mentioned it, this can make a great desk organizer too, for those “everything goes” drawers where you can never find anything. Two of these thrown in and problem solved.
(All messiness comes from lack of proper storage options, not lack of interest on the part of the user. Fact.)
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $4.99 on Amazon.com.
Via RedFerret
Most fridges are well-designed and the space organization is flexible enough to allow all sorts of pots and pans to fit in. The only place I’ve ever had problems with is the door; all those bottles and cans just don’t seem to fit in there!
It’s a trivial problem though, so I was surprised to see there’s actually an object dedicated to optimizing storage in there. The Fridge Door Can Caddy makes stacking cans easier and less space-consuming, since it allows for 4 cans to go on top of each other. Not vital for everyone, but if you’re a hardcore soda drinker and find your fridge constantly taken over by Cokes or 7Ups…
Maybe $10 is a bit too much for something non-essential like this, but I sure missed one when we were sampling every type of beer we could find last week…
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.98 on TaylorGifts.com.
Via Coolest Gadgets
Can you be trust a $6 breathalyzer? Good question.
The Keychain Breathalyser with Flashlight is essentially a good product: knowing just how much alcohol you have in your blood is a good idea if you’re thinking of getting behind the wheel. The breath tester doesn’t display an exact result, instead it flashes one of its 3 colored LEDs according to this code: green – safe (under 0.02% BAC – blood alcohol concentration); yellow – caution (0.02% BAC to 0.05% BAC; red and yellow light – danger (over 0.05% BAC).
Now, being able to test yourself on the go is a great idea… but the price is a bit iffy. Do you want to trust your life to a cheap gadget? It could be nice as a “toy” or to get a general idea, but I wouldn’t count on the green to mean “you’re perfectly fine, go ahead”.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $5.99 on SourcingMap.com.
Via AutoMotoGadgets
I didn’t know about this when I compiled the weird postcards list, because otherwise it would’ve been no. 1 on it. It doesn’t get any better than an original greeting card… which turns into a toy!
The Postcard Aeroplane is made of wood, which is interesting, but not new. However, it’s the first card that actually turns into a plane – the pieces easily detach from the frame to create a very cool glider.
Anyone will appreciate something so ingenious, but you can bet it will score extra points with the young ones. Gramps’ holiday cards will seem much less boring if they’re written on the wing of a plane.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: £5 on Suck.uk.com.
Via bookofjoe
Boring people use plain old toothpicks. But a piece of wood isn’t good enough anymore if you want to be cool. And in case you were wondering if bacon’s popularity can grow any more…
Yes, you’ve guessed it: Bacon Flavored Toothpicks.
No, there’s no particular reason for it. They won’t clean your teeth better, make you smarter or more handsome; they’re just make you feel like you’re eating bacon… even though you’re not.
At least the cinnamon flavor ones might freshen your mouth. I have a sneaky feeling the bacon’s going to win though, silly or not.
How much under $29.99?
A lot: $4.95 on McPhee.com.
