Well, without further ado, here are my favorites! Below is my absolute favorite gadget right now! I love it because I don’t like charging my i-devices into my computer downstairs. I have a power outlet converter in the outlet receptacle, but it is bulky and uses up my precious outlets. This is just amazing!

These are ice cube trays that make ice in the shape of the weirdo stone figures at Easter Island. They’d be a great conversation starter at a party.

I have long, long wanted something like this for my car. This gadget is for a bike… but maybe it can be adjusted. ;) You can record up to 20 seconds of whatever sound or message you like. Mine would probably be “OK OK! You go first!” or maybe “My brother is a cop!” Boy, a person could have a lot of fun with this one.

In a similar vein, here’s another car gadget. I love it! Although I could never get one because my car has absolutely NO dents.

I love this gadget. It’s a toe door opener. You know– it’s one of those many moments when you have a huge laundry basket filled with clothes, dishes, a few books, and a glass of water… And the door is shut? This is the perfect gadget.

Oh, I love this!! I don’t ride bikes anymore, but I would certainly appreciate all the bicyclists wearing dark clothing who ride on the side of the road in heavy traffic in the dark when it’s raining to have one of these. Yes, I’ve had a couple of close calls. You got a bike? GET THIS.

This is funny. It’s a Twitter notepad. Yeah, remember– pencil and paper? I suppose this is handy in case you are standing in line at the grocery store and have just GOT TO TWITTER but you have no Internet access. This is second best. Mmhmm.

Got a toddler who likes things that fly? Or maybe you just want to stomp out your frustrations after a hard day at work? It’s a rocker stomper. Love it.

And finally, in case the geeks are worried that practical housewifey inventions have taken over their geek sites, here’s one for the brainy person. OMG it would drive me nuts. But maybe I’d get it for my husband, Mr. Science Guy.

Those are the best I’ve seen so far. The site is loaded with gadgets, big and small. I could very, very easily spend a ton of money on this stuff….

The website is GeekAlerts.com. Isn’t that such a cool name??? GeekAlerts shows the best of the best geek gadgets, but don’t think they limit themselves to stuff for geeks. Some of the gifts are very practical, and others are outright hilarious! These are some of my favorites:

This is a waterproof iPad case. It’s perfect to wrap your iPad into if you are going to the beach, hiking in the woods, etc. I love it! GeekAlerts.com also has a long list of Apple Store promo code for Apple products. I wish I’d known about this site when I got my iPad.

The site also features a whole bunch of other iPad cases. I absolutely loved this one– it’s a wall-mount case! I could definitely use it because I like to watch the weather and news in the kitchen, but I hate having the iPad on the counter (I’m a rather sloppy cook). I love this case!

OK, THIS is for the GEEK. I don’t know what it is about bloggers and bacon, but there’s some kind of running gag with bacon this and bacon that. I’ve even seen bacon-flavored chapstick and sneakers that look like bacon, etc. Very funny! How about giving the resident geek some bacon-flavored toothpaste?

These cookie cutters are SO COOL. If I had any gumption to throw a big birthday bash for my sons, I’d get these and we’d have cookies instead of cake. I’d let the boys decorate their own cookies. It would keep the little urchins busy for HOURS, muahahaha!!

This is PERFECT for Father’s Day! I can’t believe I am late in finding this site. It’s a “bulletproof” USB key ring. No pansy plastic for the DAD. This is what I’m talking ’bout!

I could go on and on about all the quirky and delightful things they showcase. I think it’s a great place to get ideas for unique gifts. GeekAlert.com also has loads of coupons, including a page for ThinkGeek coupons for the “uber geek.”

It’s fun to peruse the gadget ideas. I think I am going to get that iPad case!

The helicopter is designed for outdoor use, but of course will move around very well indoors, in large rooms. I was immediately impressed with the very hardy construction of the helicopter. We’ve had a few remote-controlled toys in the past, and I’ve always been unhappy with the shoddy construction. Manufacturers should KNOW that a boy who’s going to operate a remote controlled anything is going to smash the thing constantly into walls! So when I saw the good construction, I was pleased.

The remote controller housing is a little flimsier. It’s very lightweight plastic and takes 6 AA batteries. I can see why it’s geared for ages 14 and up. A little kid or careless child would probably break the controller. The controls are good and strong, though.

The reception is good and the copter responds well to the controls, but there’s a definite learning curve. It’s good to encourage your child to have patience- he’s not going to be an expert as soon as you open the box. It takes time.

It’s very easy to charge the helicopter. You can either plug it in to the computer with the provided cord, or plug it in to the remote controller using the cord that is attached to the controller. It’s best to charge it with the computer. If you charge it by connecting it to the controller, you will use up the 6 AA batteries. Like many children’s toys, buying new batteries can REALLY add up. The guys have been playing with the toy on and off for about half a week, and the batteries are still OK. But more frequent users may need more batteries.

The helicopter is pretty fun to fly. Here’s a video I got from the Xenon Project website, showing you how the copter performs.

This is a good toy for boys ages 13 to 16.

After giving the toy a thorough review, here’s our consensus:

Pros:

• It’s very attractive.
• It’s built very well. The boys smashed it into walls and onto the driveway– enough to make me cringe– but the helicopter held up!
• Has 3 channels.
• Very good price, with free shipping.
• The instructions are thorough, brief, and easy to understand. Perfect for boys.

Cons:

• Difficult to control, at least for a “newbie.” Requires patience.
• Requires a lot of batteries.
• The helicopter will run for only 5 minutes or so before it needs another charge. It takes about 30-50 minutes to fully charge. My sons did not like waiting in between charges, and wished there was an alternative way (or faster way) to get going again.

All in all, the S107G Mini Gyro Remote Controlled Helicopter is a great “starter” helicopter for boys getting their first remote-controlled copter. It’s inexpensive, easy to operate but not so easy that the boy will get bored, and of very good construction for those “oops” moments that newbies make. Just be sure to have plenty of batteries!

Note: This product was provided for me free of charge by Xenon Project in exchange for a thorough review. Please know that my opinions are 100% mine. Thanks for reading!

Well, take heart, my dears. Spring WILL come. It always has! And Mother’s Day is right around the corner, too. Do you have any plans for your wonderful mom? (Please don’t say flowers of chocolate!). You don’t want to give your mom another boring old store-bought, generic card, do you?? I, personally, am totally sick and tired of boring cards. I’m going to order those lovely scrapbook cards that my friends sell on their websites. The cards are lovely and I’d love to support my pals!

But what about a gift, a real You-Are-More-Special-To-Me-Than-A-Bunch-Of-Boring-Flowers gift, huh? How about one of those cool, slick, funky Atomic Watches, for the gadget-crazed mom (*cough cough*). Atomic watches are not very feminine, but they are SO COOL. So are the Swiss Army watches! A geeky mom would love something like this (*cough cough*).

For the sparkly, feminine mom, there are other watches to choose from. The Cartier mom’s watch in pink is so pretty (at $4000, it’s better be). There are tons of things to choose from, and don’t worry, they ARE affordable, too. And be sure to check the Closeout Specials for great deals.

So while we may not necessarily feel like spring is here, May will arrive any day now! Be prepared. ;)

Well, if you are starved for gift ideas, I’m here to help! I was recently browsing Macys.com, and found some pretty neat things! One tip, though. NEVER buy anything at Macy’s for full retail value– TOO expensive! You can save with Macy’s coupons at Savings.com.

OK, on with the show…

I love these. They are “Touchscreen compatible” gloves. While I walk outside, I sometimes like to use my phone (to tweet and check email). No can do in the cold, not with normal gloves. These have little pads on the fingers to allow you to use your phone! There’s a guy in Canada who will be selling these, too– I’m going to get some from him. They’re called “Twittens.” I’ll do a review as soon as they arrive. So neat!

photo courtesy of Macys.com

This is a purse hanger. What a great idea! You can keep your purse off the floor in the closet, or at the restaurant table.

photo courtesy of Macys.com

This lamp is very, very cool. But it would be wicked hard to dust. Get it for someone who either loves dusting, or who has a maid. Or helpful kids, heh heh.

photo courtesy of Macys.com

This cracked me up. A Stinky Dorm Kit. Hoh boy, does Macy’s know kids or what! Not a gift for the super-sensitive college student, I reckon.

This is a bladeless fan. SO cool. Literally, haha! I saw one at a local store. I have no idea how the thing works…

So those are just a few nifty and unusual gift ideas. Remember– use your coupon codes! You’re welcome.

Bets of all– I have a coupon code for you! Get 15% off your purchase if you use the coupon code BH2010, AND get free shipping for the holidays!

GalaxyGold.com is based in Los Angeles, California– all jewelry is designed and manufactured in the United States. They specialize in gemstone jewelry, but like this lovely ring, they also create alluring designs with the metals. I’m impressed! The earrings are also amazing. Whoever does the designs at GalaxyGold.com is very talented. The designs are very feminine and colorful– I like them! Some of the pendants have lovely pearls with gemstones flanking the center. Wow, it’s stunning jewelry.

GalaxyGold.com offers a lifetime guarantee, a 30-day full refund return policy, with excellent shipping prices and speedy service. They accept PayPal, money orders, and all the major credit cards. And all that with some really beautiful prices, too.

Check them out. I know there’s at least one or two ladies in your life who would love to be pampered with some resplendent earrings or necklaces. GalaxyGold.com makes it easy to shop– by jewelry type, gemstones, styles, and by birthstone, too. Use the coupon code with your order!

Here are some of the ones that cracked me up.

And they even have I Can Has Cheezeburger stuff!

These are the best. You can also make custom shirts and mugs, too. Although, some of the products there are vulgar and some are outright obscene. You can search for items (such as LOL Cats) to avoid the dirty stuff. Some of these are very well done, LOL!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Ooooooook. Enough is ENOUGH with the rain. The Weather Dude said that we have had almost SIX (yes, 6) inches of rain for the month of June. :cwy: Add to that all the crying I’ve been doing because I am renovating and have to hang my laundry on the clothes line… and we’d got a veritable flood going on here, people. I am SO SICK of the RAIN! Gah! We had nothing in May (everything was bone-dry) and are absolutely saturated for June. *sigh*

So Upstate New York and the rest of the Northeast has been mighty gloomy this summer so far. Cold, clammy, humid, and overcast. My poor, poor flower gardens. If they’re not drowning in weeds because I can’t weed them, then they’re drowning in water and bereft of sunshine.

I spotted some bouquets of flowers at my local grocery store– even they were a sorry sight. The azaleas were brown and wilted. The roses looked OK, but they were rather bland without sprays of color. We gals NEED our flowers! So why pay through the nose for wilted flowers at a supermarket, when you can shop online for gorgeous bouquets and have them delivered!!! :D Now that’s fine living. :D I cannot wait until my kitchen renovation is done– I’m going to place tons of flowers and plants near my new 4-foot by 5-foot window.

And if you’re looking for spectacular, fresh flowers— you have got to check out www.1800flowers.com.

To my Hubs and kids: *HINT HINT*

My husband has ordered from them before and they do have speedy and friendly flower delivery. The prices are good, and the bouquets are INCREDIBLE. Really, go see their pictures of their bouquets. You can practically smell the Gardenia Bonsai tree, WOW. I want one of those for my kitchen window. And they have these super-bright pink azaleas that are NOT wilted! The bouquets are really affordable, as low as $20! But www.1800flowers.com has more than bouquets and bonsais. They have topiaries, fruit baskets, patio trees, hydrangeas, orchids, dish gardens, and loads more.

Do yourself a favor– come in out of the incessant rain and just GO to the website. It is instant sunshine. Imagine having a windowsill full of them!

If you are like me, you totally lose track of the days when you are busy. I cannot believe it’s June already! Where did May go?! I used to be so good about remembering anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays… and actually, I still AM good at remembering them. It’s keeping track of the days that messes me up! I’ve been caught rather unaware these days….

Anyway, if you need a gift FAST because you’ve forgotten *again*, here’s a really cool idea for you: FriendGiftr. You can buy AND send a “real” (physical) gift card or a digital gift card to anyone, anytime. Choose from dozens and dozens of merchants, such as Dell Computer, Applebees, Barnes&Noble, L.L. Bean, Marriott Hotels, Overstock.com, and loads more. Very nice! Cards can be in many different denominations, from $10 to $100. But the very unique thing about FriendGiftr is that the cards are “swappable.” That means that let’s say you get a $50 Pottery Barn card for Aunt Bertha, but what she REALLY wants is a honking-cool orange kayak from Dick’s Sporting Goods. Aunt Bertha can sign in to FriendGiftr and exchange her card with NO additional cost. And you’ll never be the wiser. Because you’ll probably die of shock to know that Aunt Bertha is a white-water rapids, kayak-paddling fiend. The secret is safe with FriendGiftr.

By the way, you can use FriendGiftr through their website via mobile, like iPhone, Blackberry, and Android, or via Facebook. VERY convenient! Check out the site for more details.

Right now, Photofiddle is having a nice promotion: a $10 gift certificate you can claim by emailing mom@photofiddle.com. It’s open until May 4th. You can find more details about Photofiddle.com at their website, or follow them on Twitter (http://twitter.com/photofiddle) to keep up with other discounts and contests.