Big Norm Fish Scaler

Big Norm Fish Scaler

This scaler has 19 floating heads which lift off and catch scales.
This is the quick way to clean a fish.

I am going to buy this for the hubby. It's the least I can do since I nag at him for not wanting to keep all the perch that I catch because it's too hard to scale the smaller ones.
I like to keep all the small ones. You just cut off the heads, gut them, scale them and cook them whole. You get more fish for your worm cooking and eating them that way.
At least with this, the scaling part wouldn't be such a chore. I could even do it for him with this handy little gadget.

**SMACKS FOREHEAD**

Sometimes I don't know what's wrong with my brain. I see things that other people have invented or found a simple solution for, smack myself on the forehead and think, "Why didn't I think of that!?" Sometimes the solution to a problem is so simple that I wonder if I am missing so many brain cells that I can't think at all.
This is one of those times. I don't know how many times that I've plugged my cellphone into the wall with the cord laying out across the kitchen counter seemingly in the way of everything and thought to myself, "I wish there was a better way to do this.".

Now there is!









It's called a Driinn.

From the website:

Driinn to the rescue! Charging a cell phone or PDA can be a messy experience. The device and tangled cord often rest precariously on a precipice - table, shelf, counter top, window sill - from which they could easily fall, or on the floor near an outlet, where they are vulnerable to getting stepped on. Designed in Holland, Driinn is named after the sound that the Dutch think a phone makes when it rings. Just wrap the charge cord around the holder; the Driinn hangs between the battery charger and the electric outlet. It provides a safe haven for your device to rest while charging and a convenient storage place for the charging cord. You’ll want one for every mobile device you have. Comes in Black, Lime Green and Red Orange.

Is that a stroke of pure genius or what!??! I think it's fantastic!
And even better than solving one of my most annoying pet peeves............it only costs $10!

I only wish I had thought of it first.

I must have one of these......or two.

Giant Cupcake Pan

It's a giant 3-D, 1.5 foot high Giant Cupcake cake pan by Wilton.

And I want one!

Giant Cupcake Cake Pan

This would be great for Kaseys next birthday. Freakin' cute!

I.Am.Green.

Reading through this post at Mental Floss about a blog called On My Desk, my eyes came to a screeching halt on this picture of some persons desk area. I am green with envy! Talk about my dream room! A craft room with a huge table, everything organized into bins, a computer desk area and a television in the corner. I could live in that room!


'Scuse me while I wipe up some drool........

I Can't Quit Looking At This Bag

I have this thing for bags. Not just any old bag but big bags. Bags you can carry a lot of stuff in. Bags with lots of pockets and zippers, snaps and buttons.
Cool Tools posted this bag about a month ago and I have fallen in love with it. It's got plenty of room and pockets for essentials. Every pocket closes or has a zipped cover which is a huge bonus when carrying little things like keys, money and a cellphone.
To me, this looks like the perfect bag. I would use it as a purse. I carry so much stuff now for me and for the baby, I feel like I am always hauling luggage around anyway. I just love it. I want the one in khaki. But the gray one or black would go with anything too.

Ampac Tote Bag $13 Available from 1-800-luggage
Or $30 from the manufacturer, Ampac Travelware, Inc.



I wish we had an IKEA store in our area. These tote bags would come in so handy, especially on trips to the pool or on a camping trip. The measure approximately 4'x2'x2'. That's HUGE for a bag. And they are only 99¢!
Someone ship me a couple, wouldja?

Trying to Go Green!

Just a few days ago, I read somewhere that the best way to get started recycling is to start with one particular item and try to recycle as much of it as possible. That way, you aren't overwhelmed and can get a real feel for how easy it is to recycle things.
I started a few months ago by collecting aluminum cans for recycling. (Actually I give them to my grandfather who takes turns them in for cash. It gives him something to do.) Anyway, recycling aluminum cans is easy for us because with our recent cut down on drinking soda, I haven't had many cans at all to add to the plastic bag hanging under the kitchen sink. I have recently been thinking about recycling glass next. I would love to have this bin to make collecting all that glass a little easier and cleaner. And it would be perfect for my tiny kitchen.



The Container Store
$149.00

Floating Bed

I would really love to have one of these. But I don't think I could ever sleep on it outside. To actually sleep outdoors where someone could just walk up and do whatever they wanted to me?? No way! I would love to sleep outside amongst the sounds of the birds and the breezes or the stars and the moonlight. There's not much I wouldn't do outside, but sleep out in the open, I will not. In a tent, yes. Don't ask me why. But wouldn't this be nice to just lay on and relax with a book and a drink? YUM!


On the other hand, having this strung up indoors as part of your decor looks hideous......unless you are a porn star, I guess.

TeaPosy & Numi Flowering Teas

These are just the coolest things! And I don't even drink hot tea. But they sure are pretty.


From Numi:
Flowering Teas are handsewn rosettes of fine tea leaves that elegantly bloom into a work of art when steeped in hot water.











TeaPosy
















VIA

I Love These Rugs!

How fun!!

Street style for your home! A New York City, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Paris, London or Metro sewer manhole cover rug... What a clever visual pun!

Made of 100% recycled truck tires. They're a huge 24" in diameter, nylon flocked, super durable, indoor/outdoor floor mats.

Found at Perpetual Kid

Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes

Neatorama posted about these great Inchworm Shoes. They expand one full size in half-size increments as your child grows. And they're not that expensive either starting at around $19.


Also in mind are these Robeez Shoes. I really like these because they are soft leather protection from rough surfaces and cold temperatures yet still allow the babys foot to develop a little more freely than having to wear regular toddler shoes all the time. Korey could wear these all the time in or out of the house. They cost around $26.

Koreys going to have to have shoes here real soon. She's growing so fast. Which reminds me how fast Batson kids outgrow shoes. Yeesh!

Neat finds by Not Martha!

If you haven't ventured over to the Not Martha blog, what are you waiting for!?!? I read it every day. Megan always finds some great treasures online and has awesome projects and recipes.
I find her style and mine very similar, so when she comes across a neat product or idea, I usually find myself wanting it too.

Here's just a few of the neat things she's posted lately.




Floating Shoe Rack by gnr8









Silhouette Window Film by Scandanavian Design Center








Window Projection Light by Design*Sponge









Ceramic Hook Box by Luca Nichetto

Bumped, Bruised Bananas

Banana Bunker - $5



This is the result of an idea that I tossed around not too long ago.......something to put bananas in so you can carry them around without fear of them becoming squished or bruised before you could eat them. I bet more kids would carry them in their backpacks with a contraption like this. I just wish I had thought to make one first. That's how a lot of my ideas end up....I think they are crazy or no one would buy them. I guess that's not as true as I thought.
Although I must say, this one looks a little off-color without a banana in it....teeheehee

Fiskars Ultra Shape Xpress

Ooolala! I love this!
The Fiskars Ultra Shape Xpress is a freehand cutter that slices through paper in any shape you like effortlessly.

From Fiskars website:
This new, simplified design revolutionizes shape cutting. With its ergonomic shape, the Fiskars® Ultra ShapeXpress™ is easier to hold, and SoftGrip® technology adds comfort. The freehand spacer allows for a quick switch between template and freehand cutting. The fine tuning dial adjusts blade depth for different paper thickness and personal preference. The new drop in blade replacement with arm lock allows blade changes without affecting depth.

VIA

Green Cone

Green Cone

I was more burdened by wet garbage than I thought, and more relieved than I expected by a fiendishly simple device called the Green Cone.

Regular composters are notoriously picky: no bones, no meat, no oil, no avocado pits or shells, no citrus peels, no dairy products. The Green Cone happily devours all that stuff, which means that pretty much all your kitchen waste can go in it, right now. File and forget.

All you need is some yard and a spot that gets sunshine. The Cone's perforated plastic basket is sunk two feet into the ground. The Cone stands 28 inches above the ground, collecting sun warmth to encourage the bacteria down below who are chowing on the garbage and seeping the resultant nutrients into the soil. Thanks to the ground seal around the basket, there's no smell at all, except when you open the top of the Cone to add more yummy garbage for the microbes.

Garden wastes should not go in the Cone, because they would overwhelm it with volume. Nor should paper or plastic products, which is about all you'll have left in your now light and odorless kitchen trash bin.

-- Stewart Brand

Green Cone
$105
Available from SolarCone

VIA

USB Chiller/Warmer

This neat little device can keep your coffee hot and your soda cool, all from your computer’s USB port. Seems like the perfect gift for someone who’s always on the road. The Chiller/Warmer is available for only $24.

Buy it here!

Apple iPhone

I would *love* to have one of these! It's my dream gadget!

Once again Apple makes developments in the technology field that is years beyond other companies. At the annual Macworld Conference and Expo several things were announced including the companies revolutionary new contraption. iPhone combines many of today’s functions in one smooth, clean and efficient Mac and PC device:

• iPod
• Cell Phone
• Daily Calendar
• Fully Functioning html Web Browser (Safari)
• Email
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• 2.0 Megapixel Digital Camera
• and much more.

See the iPhone on Mac’s website.
Read the Macworld article.

Mushroom Shelves

CUTE!

VIA

GorillaPod & MonsterPod

MonsterPod


These are too cool!
I've been trying to get more "artsy" and creative with my photos since getting a digital camera. These two products are awesome in that you can get shots that you could never get before. I'm going to add these to my "creative arsenal" as soon as I can.

Sticks to over 1,000 surfaces and objects, even upside down and peels right off.
Holds any camera up to 20oz (560 grams).
Tilts and rotates to any angle with pivoting tripod mount.
Molds to hold almost any surface or object.
Waterproof and dirt resistant.
Fits in your pocket.
Works over and over. Simply wash it with water when it gets dirty.

GorillaPod


















Can be used as a traditional standing tripod, or molded around objects using sturdy moldable arms.
The go-anywhere Original Gorillapod holds up to 9.7oz (275 grams). Enough for most Point & Shoots.
The heavy-duty Gorillapod SLR Zoom holds up to 6.6lbs (3kg!). Enough for an SLR + zoom lens + flash.
Flexibile arms make it easy to orient your camera in any direction.
Waterproof and impact-resistant.
Rubberized arms and feet provide additional gripping power.
Takes great vacation photos, steady night shots, and amazing time lapses!

VIA Photojojo

Mr. McGroovy's Box Rivets

Cardboard is a wonderful building material. You can do far more with it than you might expect. Use it to make furniture, sculpture, models, and of course play structures. The common way to assemble projects with cardboard boxes is to slap pieces together with duct tape. But tape is clumsy, expensive, will unpeel outdoors in weather, looks clunky, and won't take paint. A cool alternative are these Kevlar-like rivets specially designed for box cardboard. One shape does both sides. The rivets sport a grippy ratchet that clinches them close, yet enables them to be reused. The large button gives them holding power and allows you to make joints that can swing, too. We've found that you need either two people working, or ape-long arms, to squeeze both sides of the rivet pairs. Also, they are really made for the double wall corrugated cardboard of the kind you find in large appliance boxes; on thin cardboard they aren't as prettily snug, but still will hold fine. A set of 100 (50 pairs) is enough for a small maze.

Mr. McGroovy's Box Rivets
$6 per 50 pairs
Available from Mr. McGroovy's

Mr. McGroovy has free plans and some nice tips on where to locate free large boxes.

VIA

Musical Toothbrush

Toy company Hasbro is rolling out a toothbrush that plays music through kid’s teeth as they brush. If I understand this right, you can only hear the music through your teeth in your head and not in your ears? Is that safe? Sounds like it could be annoying.

When the user pushes a button on the manual toothbrush, it "plays" a song. As the bristles are brushed across the teeth, they send sound waves through them so that the user hears the song in his or her head.