If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

The more technology evolves, the more e-trash we see around us. Think about how many computers end up in dumpsters every year. You can’t just keep your Pentium III around for ever…

This is giving rise to an interesting new type of products made from recycled circuit boards. Mouse pads, coasters, and now the Circuit Board Necklace. There’s no chance you’ll get a piece of your old computer though, since they are made from pieces that were printed wrong and never made it to consumers.

Of course, since these are made from real circuit boards, no two pendants are alike. They’re all the same size, but the model will differ slightly. You can be happy you’re saving a bit of the environment and showing off your inner geek in an unique way.

Alternately, you could just cut up your motherboard, but I doubt that’s a very good idea.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on ThinkGeek.com.

Fancy jewelry is all over the place. Simple things are also pretty easy to find. But when it comes to something a bit more complex, yet whimsical, the offer seems to be limited. Don’t women like to wear funny/silly jewelry that still looks good? My strolls through jewelry stores say “no”, unfortunately, and if there isn’t a big enough market for them, accessories I like won’t get made.

I am understandably happy when I find something as attractive as this. The Lil Angry Owl Necklace has an adorable and original pendant. The owl manages to be cute even while it’s giving the world a pissed off look and it’s a great accessory for girls who are still young enough to afford acting and dressing playfully. But, seeing as it’s designed to be understated, I think it can also be successfully used to brighten up a stiff work suit, to show there’s a real person under there and she’s real nice.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $14.99 on ModCloth.com.

I was going to write about how some people like to follow trends, while others like being original, and I realized I wasn’t right. Many of the “originals” are just following their own trend - it’s now cool to wear handmade objects, to ransack your mum’s closet for 70s clothes and/or to be geeky. And, as far as trends go, I love it. People who follow it are likely to be kindred spirits.

While I doubt it’s handmade, I see the Cassette Tape Necklace as a future hit with retro fans and geeks alike, maybe even eco-minded people. The pendant is cut from an old vinyl record into the shape of the cassette tape and it has three things going for it:
- originality (everyone will notice a black tape among all the silvery and gold pendants around)
- recycling (those vinyl would’ve been thrown away, right?)
- commentary on life (ok, maybe that’s too much to say, but the tape replaced the vinyl and now it’s been replaced by the CD… what’s next?)

If you’re looking for special jewelry and you’re bored with the traditional precious metals and gemstones… look no further.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on Insound.com.

Via Outblush

The perfect accessory for an ABBA fan or proof of the consumerism we’re slave to? The Gimme Gimme Gimme Tote Bag could be taken both ways - personally, I’m leaning toward the latter. You’ll also have a high chance of driving away any man who happens to read it, but it’s each girl’s choice in the end. Maybe you just love 70s Swedish pop.

Beside the debatable print, the bag is a regular well thought out tote: it has both a zippered pocket and a key strap, big selling points for me as I like to be able to find important things in a flash, not rummage inside for 10 minutes.

Just… I don’t know, that message really doesn’t sit with me. I’ll pass on this one.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $11.99 on GoneBlue.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

Space Invaders has achieved cult status and, since this year it’s the 30th anniversary of the game, loads of themed merchandise is popping up, most of it very cool.

The latest example I’ve come across is this Gold Space Invaders Badge. It’s cool indeed. It fits the current handmade trend, it’s geeky, it looks good… But how do you justify the $12.80 price tag? (and that’s on sale) It’s a couple of stitches which take a couple of minutes to make…

All right, I know most people aren’t crafty or just don’t feel like working on something like this, but I still feel it should’ve been cheaper.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.80 on IDontLikeMondays.us.

I don’t do my nails very often, because it only lasts until the first time I do the dishes. And really, it’s not worth the trouble. And there’s plenty of that, especially with dark colors and especially when I do my right hand… I’ve got shaky fingers and I can’t do shit with my left hand, so the right ends up in less-than-perfect shape.

All this lenghty introduction for this brilliant product: the Sally Hansen Color Quick Nail Pen. Forget the quick coloring and fast drying; the real innovation here is the way it works. You get a “pen” filled with nail polish with a brush attached on one end, which works more or less like shoe polish: you shake it, click it a couple of times then apply. Since the pen is much easier to hold than a regular brush it gives much more control and the chances of the polish ending up on your skin instead of the nail diminish.

How much under $29.99?
A lot: $9.49 on Amazon.com.

Summer is a time for open-backed shoes, no doubt. I just want to slip my foot in and be on my way! But unfortunately my love of really long jeans means that my pants get stuck between my heel and my shoe all the time. Annoying to say the least… So far, the only answers I’d found were: a) ignore; b) buy shorter pants. But sometimes, especially with heels, shorter just won’t work, while ignoring the situation can lead to uncomfortable accidents.

Once again, someone thought of a solution. Kix by Katie is a device meant to keep your pants in place and out of your shoes. It’s very simple to use, you basically just attach it to the inside of your hemline and that’s it (if you want to see a demo video, click here).

The downside: they are not reusable. You have to remove them when you wash the pants, then replace the strip with a new one. The upside: you get three strips in each pack.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $12.95 on KixbyKatie.com.

Via Outblush

Have you ever went out somewhere… bought a beer… and found you had nothing to open it with? Um, no, me either. If I want to take beer to, say, a picnic or the beach, I’ll get cans; if I’m drinking out of a bottle it means I’m in a bar and it gets opened by the staff.

However, if you frequently miss a beer opener… the After 5 Cap with Bottle Opener is for you. It’s a baseball cap (obviously), but it has an opener embedded under the bill. I think the point is that you’re unlikely to forget your cap at home, but an opener is easily mislooked.

But I still don’t get it. How would someone end up with beers that need opening in the middle of nowhere? I’m sorry, $20 for this is waay too much.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on After5Catalog.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

My first personal blog sported, at one time, a header saying “Will work for books”. While books still are my free item of choice… the internet is a close second. Or maybe it’s a tie for first spot, since I like to look up stuff while reading.

The Work for WiFi Messenger Bag is just great. What better way to send your message to the world? It might not be large enough for your laptop, but you can cary your EEE or BlackBerry or PDA and get online on your breaks from scrubbing the dishes or mopping the floors. Really, how much can you survive without checking your e-mail? What if someone important happens in Blogland and you’re not there to witness it?!

How much under $29.99?
A little: $22.99 on CafePress.com.

Via FashionablyGeek

I love cats, so understandably I end up with quite a lot of cat-themed merchandise… (Although nothing beats a real live cat jumping on your bed at 4 a.m.)

Maybe the humor is too subtle for me, but the Pussy Whipped Tote Bag would make sense if a man wore it, right? Because men is what the phrase is about… That aside, the picture is very cute and the interpretation hilarious. It even lets you play innocent and pretend you thought it was merely a (tasteless) joke about cats and blenders.

How much under $29.99?
Some: $19.99 on CafePress.com.

Via FashionablyGeek