Banana Holder and Fruit Bowl

This simple accessory called the "banana boat" is a combination banana holder and fruit bowl. This inexpensive piece was designed by David Quan. The metal arms can be folded up as in the picture, or folded down flat with the melamine bowl. Measurements: 17" x 10" x 10". Price: $24.50. Available: here.

Amazon Kindle - The "Going Green" Gadget for Saving Trees

The Amazon Kindle first made a splash last year when it sold out at Christmas time and was hard to find. Since then the Kindle has continued to grow a great reputation in the market. Looking at Amazon today, there is an amazing 3,601 reviews on this product. That is just a staggering number for any product. The reviews average 4 out of 5 stars which again is no small feat.

I felt obliged to write a story on this gadget after conducting my own informal "straw poll" last week. I asked 10 of my friends and family if they had heard of this product. Only 1 of the 10 had said they heard of the product, but he really did not know much about how it works.

The Kindle is a wireless device where newspapers, magazines, and books can be downloaded into it to be read by the user. Now, when I made this statement to the 10 people I polled, the lights did not go off in their head right away. I must admit it took me awhile to consider the amount of paper I could save by not having a newspaper delivered each day to my home. Frankly, I do not read the entire paper. It pains me to put it in the recycle bin each day after I am done reading. How much paper is one year's worth of newspaper? I know how heavy my bin gets, because I drop it off once a week. Over the course of the year, I could save a lot of trees.

Continue reading "Amazon Kindle - The "Going Green" Gadget for Saving Trees" »

Stylish Floor Fans by Swizz Style

Swizz Style has a really cool looking line of products that are not ground breaking technology by any means, but their unique look makes all the difference. Designer Carlo Borer designed these two floor fans to help with a gentle breeze or kick up a gale force wind thanks to these adjustable industrial fans. The Otto fan features a look in tune with nature thanks to a formed wood frame with a nice oiled finish. 45 Watts 13.7" W x 14.8" H x 7.2 D Weight 9.4 lbs The "Q" fan is much more industrial and bears the look of Borer's reputation as a designer and artist. This fans appearance is unmistakable with its stainless steel and aluminum construction that combines stylistic requirements of the designer with the quality requirements of technology. 45 Watts 16.9" W x 14.2" H x 5.9" D Weight 8.8 lbs 3 Speeds Q and Otto fans available in Spring 2009 From

The Power Pet Automatic Cat or Dog Door

Automation has made its way to everything including a simple item like a pet door. The Power Pet fully automatic pet door accommodates animals up to 100 pounds and is activated by the presence of you cat or dog. Your pet simply wears a sensor on their collar and this activates the door to open, keeping out the strays looking for a nice place to sleep. The digitally coded signal emitted from your pet's ultrasonic transmitter collar not only tells the Power Pet door how far away your pet is, it tells the pet door in which direction your pet is traveling. This allows the Power Pet to open only when your pet is on a direct approach, not when it is just wandering by, sitting, or sleeping next to the door. Features include AC or battery power, automatic dead bolt lock, safety retract system, range controls, and hopefully a lower power bill. The door has a tight seal which keeps your internal air from escaping or outside air coming in. The full size Power Pet door runs $349, or a smaller version is available for $299. Get it Here

Block Wall Shelves from West Elm

Block wall shelves from West Elm are a good way to highlight small home décor accents in your house. A neat feature is that these shelves are thicker than normal wall shelving which creates a different look altogether. I further like the fact that they can be arranged in many different patterns according to your own tastes. Pictured here in chocolate, block wall shelves also come in white, coco wood, and acorn colors. Constructed of hardwoods, these shelves measure 6"l x 5"d x 5"h. Price: $44-$54. Available: here.