Luckies of London Limited Has the Most Fun & Unique Affordable Gifts!

 

Oh boy. I've got a ton of birthdays, anniversaries and housewarmings in the next couple of months and I was starting to panic - how am I going to shop for all of these people and occasions? There's not enough time and I don't have a lot of money and ...

It's so easy to get stressed out about this kind of thing because it really does take a lot of time to find just the right thing for each individual if you have to hunt around different stores and rack your brain trying to remember something they need or want or like. 

But there is no need to worry anymore because I've found the most amazing one-stop-shop there is - Luckies of London Limited run by the lovely Jim. And it's all online, so you can shop in the comfort of your own home at whatever time is convenient for you. And boy, are you going to be blown away by the selection!

Check out the extraordinary, affordable finds I got for the folks on my gift-giving list:

- Undercover mini sleeve for mp3 players, cameras, games, phones, etc.

Just like it's big brother, the Undercover Laptop Sleeve, this awesome little padded envelope is actually made of a strong tyvek material,  lined and secures tightly with velcro. So while it looks just like a beat up piece of paper, it's splashproof, tearproof and  a lot heartier than that plastic thing you've been using to carry your phone/camera/etc. in. But be careful - it's so authentic looking that you might just want to pop your phone in the mail!

- Party Animals

Anyone can make a sandwich, but mine is going to be the only one with cool looking one, thanks to these playful sandwich cutters. I want to get the whole lot - Pig & Hen (I have the Cow). And I'm not going to just limit myself to sandwiches with this l'il beaut. Oh no, I'm going to make cow-shaped cookies, cow-shaped polenta and cow-shaped  burgers (or is that too cruel?) for my next dinner parties, to name just a few. And while I'm keeping this guy (I'm calling him Len for some reason), I'm going to get a bunch for my food-loving friends. It's not only great fun, it's something they'll really use too.

- Morris the Memo Holder

Speaking of animals, I love Morris. Not only does he hold your memo notes for you, he'll hold it in his mouth for you so you won't forget your shopping list or reminder to pick up the dry cleaning.  There is something so sweet about this burrow. He never asks anything of you - just that you make him feel useful. Now that's unconditional love! He comes in Red, White and Charcoal.

- Pickmaster

This is the ultimate gift for the music lover or musician on your list! Like the old 3-hole punch from high school, the Pickmaster (pictured above) punches out not holes, but a lifetime of personalized guitar picks out of anything flat - cardboard, plastic, etc. You can recycle materials and rock your way up the Stairway to Heaven! This gorgeous sturdy, chromed metal punch is something that the axe player in your life will genuinely appreciate. Rock on!

- YouToDo

It's as tall as I am, which means there's a lot to get through, but I'm up for the challenge. Are you? This list of to dos isn't a chores list by any means. It's more of a life list and the whole family can get involved. There are easy tasks such as "make and flip a pancake" and harder challenges like "learn the capitol cities of Europe." It comes with stickers so you can mark your achievements and there are a few blank spots for you to write in your own to dos. It's much easier to tackle your goals and dreams when they're right there facing you every day. This is a fantastic gift for anyone of any age.

The best part of all this? These are just a small few of the outrageously great products  Luckies has to offer. Shop their whole collection now and get the best gifts EVER!

Want a Truly Fun & Original Case for Your iPhone 4? Get the Arkhippo from ARKWHAT

Many iPhone 4 cases look the same.

Don't you want something that stands out, that says "I am not just a follower?" Don't you want something that rocks as hard as you do? I've got to say, that's extremely hard to find.

But then I found Arkwhat's ArtHippo I and it was like when you meet someone that likes the same band out of Utrecht or read your favourite book more times than you ever did.

It was love at first sight.

There is something so freakin' amazing about this design. Arkwhat's ballsy, inventive move to make something this big, with  this much impact... it's like no other case in the world.

Using a material called EVA, it is firm, yet a little squishy, making is super comfortable to talk on the phone. And because it's got such a wide back (think of old televisions), you can use it as a stand - either vertically or horizontally - so watching videos or your favourite shows is now a helluva lot more fun.

And while this is one of the most incredibly unique cases I've ever seen, it's still got all the protective power you want and need for your phone. There's a speaker and mic opening at the bottom and to adjust the volume? You push on the case. Now that's fun.

 

There are 7 colours to choose from. I got the hot pink, which isn't girly in the least. In fact, it looks more Andy Warhol than Legally Blonde.

 

This is going in my pick of best gifts and designs of 2011.

If you want to get an amazingly original gift for someone, I recommend the Arkwhat ArkHippo I. They'll think of you every time they use it.

Shop the ArkHippo I Collection now.

Simplfy Your Life With Powermat Wireless Charging

Has your life become overrun with cables and wires?

Technology is wonderful, but the tangle of wires around my house drives me nuts, so I decided to declutter and simplify.

Powermat Wireless Charging Products allow you to keep your phones, cameras, mp3 players and whatever other gadgets you've got going on, charged and ready to go, but they are also:

- wireless so you have less cords to deal with  - thank you

- versatile so you can charge more than one item - because who has only one device these days?

- quick and easy to use, because you simply put your device down to begin charging - no plugging and unplugging

- darn smart as they emit a sound and light up to let you know it's charging, won't overcharge your device - hallelujah

- saves energy  as the auto shut off occurs when your device reaches full power - how many times have you left your device charging all night?

- small enough that they don't take up much room at all - goodbye cluttter!

First, select a Powermat Mat that suits you and your family's needs. I got the Powermat 2X Mat, which allows you to charge 2 devices with just one plug. The thin black mat is about the size of a postcard, so you can really put it anywhere. Just plug it in, drop your devices down and pick 'em up charged and ready to go - it's so easy!

Then select your Receiver. If you have a Blackberry Bold 9700 Series, this Receiver Door will allow you to wireless charge it with the mat of your choice. All you do, is replace your existing battery door with this receiver, and you can drop and charge at a moment's notice. Isn't that how charging should be?

If you have an iPhone, you can make it even easier! These Bundled Solutions are a complete wireless charging system - protective case with charging mat. Plug in the mat, put on the case and you never have to do anything but drop your phone down to charge.

Why are you still charging your devices the old-fashioned way when Powermat offers such an amazing solution to cord frenzy?

And because you don't always remember to charge your device when you need to (no one's perfect!), you're going to want to get yourself Portable Power. The power! Dual 1850 Rechargeable Backup Battery charges on your Powermat Mat and then allows you to keep your devices charged while on the go. And you can charge 2 devices at once, thanks to the convenient Apple connector and micro-usb.

Powermat's made it so easy to charge your devices, so you'll find yourself with charged gadgets more often and way more space at home, in the office and your luggage.

Shop the entire Powermat collection now.

Special Technology Report: Freedom Pro Accessories Are Can't-Live-Without Items

I have been a proponent of smartphones since the very beginning. I know you know this now, but they really allow you to do so much.

In fact, I wrote about half of my book on my lovely HTC years ago and after I basically wore the keys right down to their wires, I switched to a Blackberry.

Like most smartphone users, my whole life is on here - I email, text and tweet while on the go, have my calendar and contacts with me and I work on this thing as much as I do on my laptop at home.

But as much as I love it, it still isn't as nimble as being on a regular keyboard and it's more tiring on the hands. I am limited to how much I can get done on my phone vs. working on my laptop.

So why I discovered Freedom Pro, it was love at first sight!

Their Freedom Pro Keyboard is a bluetooth keyboard that works with PDA's, smartphones, pocket PCs and UMPC's (in plain language, all that means is that it'll  work with your Blackberry, Window Mobile phone, Android, iPhone and iPad and even netbooks, Playstation3's, your PC or Mac - see the complete list). Basically, you're turning your phone into a laptop.

You initially set up your keyboard to connect via bluetooth (it takes just a minute with just a few steps) and then from then on, all you have to do to connect is press a key on your phone and turn your keyboard on. Instant gratification!

There is a pull out, folding stand that you set your phone on and because the whole set up is wireless, you don't necessarily have the phone right in front of the keyboard. Put it where it's most comfortable for you, or where space allows.

And unlike most accessory keyboards that are too small or hard to use, the Freedom Pro Keyboard is full size and has the most amazing soft keys - you'll want to type on just this from now on!  There are 6 dedicated keys that allow you to work off your phone as if it were in your hand (answer call, end/reject call, open messages/email, open address book, open tasks and open calendar), so that you don't have to give up any functionality while remaining uber productive.

You'll love being able to navigate all around your phone through just the keyboard. Switching back and forth between applications is so fast (faster than on your phone even!) and I have been able to get days of work done in just a few hours because I can be working and talking at the same time.

Sometimes I bring work to bed with me. Either I'm on a short deadline or I just can't sit at my desk anymore, but it's not always conducive to bring my big, bulky laptop to bed either because it's low on battery or it's just too uncomfortable. Now I bring my Freedom Pro Keyboard and work off of my phone and it's so easy! Just imagine how this will change everything for you - working on a plane or train, in a doctor's waiting room, etc. There's not always an outlet available for your laptop and sometimes you don't want to wait through it starting up or it's too awkward to work in such a small place, but this incredible keyboard changes all of that. 

It folds up into a beautiful leather-like case, so you can bring it anywhere with you. It uses just 2 AAA batteries (that are included!) and thanks to LED indicators, you can always tell when you're connected and how much power you've got.

The Freedom Pro Keyboard is one of the best accessories I've ever come across and it has made my life so much easier/better, I can't imagine life without it now.

And to help keep me productive, I keep the Freedom Walk & Talk in my purse at all times.  See, it gives me up to 1 hour of emergency talk time when I really need it.

And I know you've experienced this, when you go to use your phone and it's dead and it's not convenient or even possible to try and fine another phone or computer nearby.  Sigh. It is an awful place to be. But that is a thing of the past when you carry the Freedom Walk & Talk with you!

This small little black box is strong, yet light and will charge your devices with a Micro USB charging port using the foldaway Micro USB power cable. And it had an internal charging circuit that:

• Makes sure it will fully recharge, every time, even when "top up" charging (no need to fully discharge it first) up to 500 times.
• Protects both your phone and the battery from overcharging.
• Allows you to charge both the phone and the battery at the same time; prevents overcharging and ensures optimum charging every time

See? I told you it was great!

Freedom Pro Accessories are absolute essentials if you want/have to work or stay connected while on the go. And really, in this day and age, who doesn't?

Give the Mobile & Music Lovers on Your List Kicker Stereo Headsets This Holiday!

I was shocked to learn that almost all the people I polled do not listen to music on their cell/smartphone.

It turns out that hey just never got around to figuring out how to load music on, and they haven't been able to find comfortable headphones that look good and give good sound.

So I told them all about KICKER. They specialize in sound for you and your home, car, boat and power sports, so they know sound.

I think the KICKER eb91m MicroFir In-ear Stereo Headset with Microphone are exactly what you want to be able to bring big sound and great music to your life, while being able to communicate with ease whether you're in the comfort of your own car or crammed into a subway car during rush hour.

See, KICKER has made it possible for you to enjoy your music collection and get work done at the same time. Let me explain:

- Firstly, you can use this with your iPhone or Blackberry, which we both know you live and breathe by.

- Secondly, there is an In-Line Microphone that allows you to make and take calls easily without having to suffer through phone elbow or cramming the phone against your ear until it feels it will fall off trying to hear your boss's detailed instructions about the project while you're in the middle of a busy mall. The design is genius - it hangs at jaw level so you don't have to be one of those annoying people holding it up in front of your face - and you can hear everything clearly. There is also a detachable clip that allows you to secure it while on the move.

- And thanks to the Multi-Function Button , you can be listening to music and fast forward a track or switch over to answer or end a call without having to fiddle with your phone - it's right there on your headset, conveniently positioned at chest level for easy access.  Ahhh!

- Let's talk about sound, because for me, I like a lot of base and full sound. KICKER has premium full-range sound, "legendary KICKER bass response," and impedance-aligned, 8-millimeter micro drivers, which in laymen terms means you get a sonic experience like no other. Just imagine walking around with your own personal concerts happening between your ears. 

 

- Then there is the issue of most earbuds. Most just plop right out of my ears, no matter how many sizes they offer. With KICKER's eb91m, the MicroFit aluminum housing is "33% smaller than standard in-ear monitors," so they are light and comfy and each pack includes a range of soft silicone, noise-canceling tip sizes (medium, small, extra-small and micro) that actually seal in your ear canal so that you get a proper fit and sound.

- The cable isn't something you may thought of that's important but the Kevlar-reinforced, black braided cloth cable is made tough living. Kevlar is what police vests and other military-grade gear is made of, so you can imagine how it will stand up against all that you put against it.

- And because I care about what my accessories look like, you can choose from awesome looks - gun metal or pink.

So change the way someone on your list - or even perhaps yourself - lives and works. 

No doubt you've got a soundtrack to your life. Why not listen to it?

Shop KICKER now.

Become An Instant Expert with the Windows® Phone 7 Plain & Simple Book

I love technology, so when I get a new phone or gadget, I can't wait to get right in there and play around.

Not everyone enjoys it as much as I do, however. And really, it can be completely intimidating and confusing if you haven't worked with that type of technology before. 

So if you've got yourself a new Windows phone, I recommend getting a copy of Michael Stroh's Windows® Phone 7 Plain & Simple.

This incredibly fun and easy guide is colourful with tons of screenshots and photos so that you can follow everything step-by-step without fear of getting lost along the way. And thanks to everything being explained without the use of technobabble or computerspeak, you won't feel intimidated or left behind with this guide in your hands.

This book can help you do everything from learning what each key does to setting up your phone and personalizing it. Want to learn how to manage your call history, sort and search through your email, post something to Facebook or get real-time traffic conditions? You can learn all of that here and so much more (texting, working with the calendar, browsing the web, playing music and video, taking pictures and videos, apps, games, Office mobile and how to sync with your PC).

I love that you don't have to read the book cover to cover, if you don't want to. Just pick out the areas you need help with. Of course, if this is your first phone of this kind, a good read from beginning to end might just quicken the process for you.

The print is comfortable enough to read without squinting and really, the annotated, full-colour photos go a long way in getting you the info you need quickly. It's like having a Microsoft IT person right there alongside you.

But on your time, when you want the information.

Is there any better way?

Buy Windows® Phone 7 Plain & Simple and get the most out of your phone.

Share the Memories This Season with the Kodak EasyShare PULSE Digital Frame

Three of our very good friends are moving away this month.

Not far, but certainly not just a few doors away, like they've been for years.

While we are overjoyed at their new homes and opportunities, it feels a little quiet and sad without them.

A wonderful way to keep them in our daily lives has been the amazing Kodak EasyShare PULSE Digital Frame.

Thanks to built in Wi-Fi and 512 MB of internal memory, you can easily upload photos from your computer and phone via email! I've got a "Friends" folder that I've been putting digital photos in for years. Up until now, they've been on my computer in a file that I rarely look at. Now, these photos are available right in my living room. Oh, look at Ben's long hair at Scott's birthday party years ago! And Darren's of course making faces at the camera. Allana always looks so at peace, even when she's laughing at something someone said.  And our friends Jeffrey and Jonah who moved away a couple of years ago make appearances too. It's so nice to everyone together again!

I can send up to 4000 photos to this beauty of a frame. Which is good, because once I get to the Cosmo folder, it might just fill the whole thing up!

I am also using the feature that allows me to automatically receive new pictured from Facebook and Kodak Gallery albums. I am really enjoying seeing the albums I created on Facebook, because I never revisit them online and I didn't have to spend time uploading the pictures again!

Kodak also smartly allows you to create your own e-mail address for the frame to upload pictures easily from a computer or mobile phone. Then you can share the e-mail address to receive photos from your friends and family.  Sweet.

You're going to love the touch screen with LED backlit high quality display. And it takes up so little room (we have ours on our breakfast bar facing the living room) and yet offers you the chance to revisit friends, places and memories that you've likely long forgotten.

Sigh.

You'll also love the fact that it is super easy to set up - no software to install, no cables to hook up to your computer! Just turn it on and start enjoying your many, many photos (oh yes, I cut my hair short and dyed it red one summer, there's my photo of Anthony Bourdain and I, my Mom sitting in a huge lounge chair laughing....).

The Kodak EasyShare PULSE Digital Frame is available in 7” and 10” for $129.95 CDN and $199.95 CDN respectively at Best Buy, Future Shop, London Drugs, Staples, Black's, The Source, Henry's, Dell, Amazon, Sears and Kodak.ca.

Your holiday shopping just got a whole lot more exciting!

Photojojo's Mobile Phone Camera Lenses Add A Whole New Dimension!

Photography has become a viable hobby for many people, know that we all have digital cameras and cellphones and can post things online in just a few seconds.

Photojojo is one of the best places online to learn how to take amazing pictures and use simple tricks to take them up a notch. Their newsletter drops them right into your inbox twice a week.  You won't believe how much fun it is to do their suggested projects like How to Turn Black & White Photos into Full Colour Images and How to Make Your Cell Phone Look Like Your Favourite Camera!

 

And you've got to check out their store - there is so much to see and do!

As a person always on the go, I don't always remember to bring my camera with me, but I do keep my cellphone on my person at all times.

That's why I am lovin' Photojojo's Fisheye, Macro, and Wide Angle Camera Phone Lenses. I can be quite the photog without having to lug around big, heavy equipment or have to remember to pack my camera wherever I'm going.

And since Photojojo is all about quality, you get high-clarity glass cell phone lenses that are just like what the pros use, except these are made camera phone-size. Aww!

The fisheye and combo wide-angle/macro lenses can be bought bundled, or separately. I recommend getting both, so that you have a range to choose from when out in the field!

Buy the Fisheye, Macro, and Wide Angle Camera Phone Lenses at the Photojojo Store!

What I love is that they don't just work with iPhones (in fact, the sticky lens rings don't actually work with the new iPhone 4, so ha!), but with my Blackberry and older flip phones. Soo cool!

You simply stick the detachable magnetic ring around your cell's lens and then add either the wide-angle/macro lens (good for capturing a lot of stuff in one frame or great detail, like the picture of the couple at the top of this post) or the fisheye lens for a psychedelic take on things.

Here's a photo of my "home office" (read: desk at the end of our bed - sorry for the mess) using the fisheye lens.

Isn't that fun?

Each lens comes with 2 magnetic rings (4 in the bundle) and a lens cap, so you can keep them tucked away in your bag safely for when you want to capture the moment.

Buy yourself some and then get a bunch of gifts.  Because we both know it's a way cooler gift than that sweater you were going to buy. And with Christmas less than 2 months away (I know, I know), you'd better start thinking about this stuff.

Photojojo rocks my world. Go ahead and rock yours too!

The LoPocket - Your Boot's New BFF

Have you felt my purse lately? It weighs a ton.

So any chance to just take a few things with me on a walk or a quick run to the store is greatly appreciated!

But I didn't expect it be look so good.

The LoPocket is a brilliant invention - it allows you to carry your cellphone (it fits the iPhone and Blackberry, for instance), money, keys, cards (so many cards!), makeup and whatever else you deem necessary, while adorning your boot with flair and jauntiness.

The pocket is made of durable, sturdy 100% cotton that closes with a neat gold clasp. A black elastic band wraps around your boot (or pant cuff), keeping your valuables secure and giving your boot added personality.

Made in Portland, Oregon, these little beauties are fun, fashionable and a fantastic Fall & Winter addition to your wardrobe.

Choose your colour and be free, finally, of your heavy handbag!

Your Home and Office Just Isn't Complete Without Socket Sense Surge Protector!

We live in an older building, so we have very few sockets to work with.

It wasn't an issue when we moved in, but over the years, we've added to our technology tenfold, so now the sockets are all used up.

We bought some extension cords to try and remedy the problem, but have you seen the plugs that come with computers nowadays?  Everything has got a power adapter.

So our extension cords barely made a difference because we'd have to skip a socket in order to make our power adapters fit onto the strip.

Thank goodness for the ingenious Socket Sense Surge Protector!

It has many features to love:

First of all, you can expand or contract the movable sockets (6 outlets) to suit your needs. So, no matter how tight a fit you've got in behind that bookshelf or below your desk, you can manage you technology for once with ease - and only using one strip, instead of the usual 2 or 3!

The 6-foot cord  (or 3 or 12 foot) gives you the leeway you need to get in, around and under your furniture and you can organize your cables easily between each movable socket.  Which I appreciate as we've got old pieces mixed in with new, so it's tight back there! Keyhole slots allow you to mount it on the wall if you like (we're not that fancy, but kudos if you are!).

The surge protection offers you 2100 Joules of protection (a lot), which is great, considering both Scott and I had our computers going as well as all the other stuff (printer, Xbox, stereo, phones) and our power has gone off 3 times in the last month.

Which is why you'll be pleased to have the Status LEDs. Red and green indicators allow you to see the status immediately of the surge and ground.

Socket Sense is guaranteed to fit any power adapter on the market, or your money back.

I think every household should have at least one of these. 

And if you're house is like ours, you'll want at least a couple.

Buy yours now!

Special Technology Report: I Am FLYING Now That I've Got the NEW GTD® And Blackberry® Setup Guide!

Last year, I wrote about how grateful I was to have finally implemented David Allen's Getting Things Done into my life.

I am now showing my immense my gratitude for the NEW GTD® & BLACKBERRY® SETUP GUIDE.

I know you're probably addicted to your phone, but I  use mine to manage my life as well as write to deadline.

Isn't that awesome?!

I had a different phone up until recently that was set up so that I could really manage the hell outta my life (Being a full-time freelancer, I am the CEO, admin assistant and gopher).  I also wrote half of my book on it (I wrote about it too)!

When it finally died, I got a Blackberry® and tried to set up GTD® by myself on it, but I never felt that I got it right.

I noticed the difference right away: I wasn't being as productive as I knew I could be, things were slipping through the cracks and my mind was overloaded with trying to remember all that I had to do.

All things that, once you've read Getting Things Done® by David Allen and start applying it to your life, doesn't happen.

So when I got a notice that there was a NEW GTD® And Blackberry® Setup Guide, I knew that my life was just about to change.

Again.

Oh, and what a relief it is.

Not only am I back on track, but I feel AHEAD of things!

How often can you say you that?!

This easy-to-read, easy-to-follow 45-page guide (once purchased, it's emailed as a PDF file, which you can save and/or print) is just what I needed.  And it took just minutes to set everything up.

Phew! Because you don't want to spend all Sunday working your way through a guide, of all things...

It goes through the Essentials - the basics of GTD®, syncing and browser tips, etc. The most fascinating part of the essentials was that these little changes have made A HUGE DIFFERENCE!  I set up side convenience keys (p. 3), moved my icons (p. 5) and increased my font size (p. 9) and just with those 3 little things, I upped my productivity in seconds!

There is a section on Email, which is something that I continue to struggle with (I spent the last couple of days getting my inbox from over 4,000 emails down to 250). I have got these pages in front of me and will work getting my inbox to zero this week. In the meantime, the guide had me tweak things so that this will be easier from now on (thank goodness!).

Working with Tasks was my favourite section.  This is what I've needed all this time to Get More Done on this phone!  It took just a few minutes to follow all of the instructions - change the settings,  set up the categories - and in a few minutes, I'd entered the major things I need to work on. I just love how all of the things I have to do are now categorized and easy-to-follow. It gets rid of a lot of the stress I've been carrying around about them.

I had a ton of fun with the Managing your Calendar portion of the Guide. I really changed up how I record things.  I really got the difference between Time-specific vs. Day-Specific actions and entered in a bunch of items that have already made a dent in my workload!

I would have never used MemoPad before reading this guide. Now thanks to Using the MemoPad section, it's on my Home Screen and I can load in information as I go - books I want to read, vacation ideas, etc.

I feel calm about everything now. Because it's all recorded in the best possible way.

I told you it was a great system!

And now I've got it with me whether I'm at home or on the go.

Which means, I can relax because I know everything that I've got to do and when.

Do you?

[Please note: GTD® and Getting Things Done® are registered trademarks of the David Allen Company. The knack is not affiliated with or endorsed by the David Allen Company.]

Discover Cool Back-to-School Supplies For Grown-Ups at Speck

I get excited at this time of year when kids go back to school.

I like the feeling of possibility of new things, the crisp fall air (maybe not this year, but that's how I remember it), the smell of sharpened pencils, fresh paper and binders.

I've been outta elementary school for decades now, so to bring back that starting anew feeling, I thought I'd show you some amazingly designed supplies for us grown-ups from Speck.

Speck has a really great eye for modern design and they have such a wide variety of styles and designs to choose from, that you can really cater your items and gadgets to your own tastes.

Take the Fitted Case for my Blackberry.

Like most people, after getting my phone I put it in a plastic case to protect it, thinking I would get something "nicer" soon after.

Months later, I saw the Speck Fitted Case and I knew I'd found my beauty.

This smart black-and-white plaid case is unlike any other case I've ever seen.  

First of all, the hard case snaps together, instead of being one piece - which makes it much easier to remove should I need to change or replace the battery.  Secondly, it looks sleeker and smaller (read: more contoured) than when I had that plastic thing on it.  Now it looks positively beautiful! And the material gives it such a modern and unique look as well as making it uber-comfortable to hold onto. 

So now my Blackberry is not only protected, but it looks gorgeous.  

Swoon.

And to keep the sleekness going, I think the PortPack Shoulder Bag is such a fashion-forward design. This upright messenger bag just makes you feel more organized with everything on the vertical instead of the usual landscape format!  And the pixel design is tres moderne, no?

Your 15" or smaller laptop/notebook will be secure and protected, thanks to the padded - and micro-fleeced! - compartment.  Sooo soft!

And all of your necessary items can be stored in the innovative pockets and pouches.  There is media player pocket/organizer with headphone cord pass-through, expandable water bottle pocket and detachable key leash fob as well as lots of other places to store things.  

I like the strength of everything - double-needle stitched bindings, adjustable and removable padded seatbelt-quality shoulder strap, velcro and buckle front flap closure. 

Which means that it will keep up with your life and lifestyle.

Speck keeps your stuff organized and protected but in the most stylish fashion.

So sharpen your pencils and get out your new, clean notebooks. It's time for back-to-school. Woo woo!

Save $$$ With The Belkin Conserve Surge Protector with Remote Switch

I am always looking for ways to save us money here and there.

Recently, we changed phone providers and bundled services, but we needed to do more.

That's why when I saw the Belkin Conserve Surge Protector with Remote Switch, I knew it was the answer.

As our lives grow more technologically dependent, our home fills up with more things that work of electricity. I have to charge my phone and my camera, I work from home, so my computer's on all the time, and that's just my stuff - my fiance is a technological genius and so has every gadget in the world. It's no wonder our electricity bills are so high.

And just because you're turning something off, doesn't mean that there isn't still power coming out. Belkin explains - "Standby power, also called vampire power, refers to the electric power consumed by electronic appliances while they are switched off or in standby mode."

So, if you're like us, you've probably got a DVD player, printer, something that has a remote and/or digital alarm and power adapters that don't come with an off switch. These are power suckers and drainers that need to be stopped!

And it turns out the typical home has about 40 devices drawing power, so while each one doesn't draw much, when you add all of them up, it's a lot – "reaching up to 22 per cent of all appliance consumption and around 10 per cent of total residential consumption."

The Belkin Conserve Energy Saving Surge Protector with Remote Switch allows you to stop wasting energy and save huge amounts on your electric bills.

Belkin is one of those companies that "get it," so when they design a new product, they do so with the modern person in mind. That's why the Conserve has 10 surge-protected outlets - 8 that you can switch on and off and 2 that remain on. Belkin knows that you need at least that many, and that there are some devices that we'll want to keep on (like your beloved router), and ones we'll want to switch off like the computer, TV, etc.

It's so brilliant, I think that all of our homes should be equipped with one. Or ten.

It just makes sense.

And you'll have a little more money every month.

Just like that.

p.s. Read my other post about one of the best companies I've ever come across, Belkin.

Vemayca Cosmetic Bags Solve All Your Makeup Bag Woes

How many times have you had this happen:

You buy a really beautiful cosmetic bag. You just love it. You love seeing it in your purse, putting it in your carry-on, pulling out your lipstick.

But your liquid foundation bottle cracks and your makeup leaks all over the bag. There's no getting that stuff out.

Or it's covered in a thin film of bronzer dust or marks from your eyeliners and lipglosses. No matter how many times or how carefully you wash it, there's no saving your bag.

So you give up on beautiful bags and start buying ugly cheap ones at the dollar store, because you're not going to waste your money. You're not going through all that again.

Well, now you can have a beautiful bag that you can keep for as long as you want, thanks to Vemayca Cosmetic Bags.

See, the beauty of these bags is that they come with a removable soft pearl liner. As soon as the inside starts to get grubby, put a clean one in. That way, you get the bag of your dreams and you can house your cosmetics without worrying anymore!

And there's much to love about this bag, besides the amazing, innovative feature of the removable liner. First of all, it's one of the biggest cosmetics bags without being a trunk or case, so you can finally carry all of what you need without crowding everything. I love that there are 2 generous side pockets with zippers and all of the zippers have big metal "o"s that make it super easy to open and close (just think how much you'll appreciate it at places like airport security or those nights after you've had one too many margaritas!

One feature that you might not think of is the flat bottom (for once, ladies, this is a GOOD thing!). It allows you to keep the bag upright so you can apply and reapply your makeup with ease and hands-free. So talk on your cell while you do a quick touch up - this bag will keep up with you.

And of course we've got to talk about how it feels. Veronica M. Mayo, Founder, has selected a soft, velvety fabric that makes it so enjoyable to touch and use. It comes in 2 colours - black and red.

Of course you can use it for more than just makeup. But with a system this brilliant, it's hard not to load it full of your essential cosmetics.

Soooo, maybe you should get two. One colour for your makeup, the other for cellphone, keys etc...

Now that's organized!

Special Technology Report - The Nokia E71 Phone is Sleek, Sexy & Stylish

I am not going to lie - the design of my phone is as important to me as the functions it comes with.

So when I saw the sleek and sophisticated Nokia E71, I was completely taken with it. I mean, not only is it thin, but it's got this stellar stainless steel look that is sexy and alluring.

You just want to reach out and touch it.

Which is the just the kind of feel you want your phone to have. After all, you're on it ALL THE TIME.

And though it's as thin and pretty as any gossip girl, it's no lightweight.

First of all, it's a perfect blend of business and social that you've been craving in a phone, but never been able to find - until now.

See, it allows you to have 2 modes - one for work and one for personal use. Which is smart, because although your 2 lives intersect, it doesn't mean that your contact and emails should.

You can customize each home screen so that you can identify which mode you're in at a glance and access them at the touch of a single button. So forget about carrying around 2 phones or having to constantly sift through phone numbers and messages. The Nokia E71 has got you covered!

Look, you need a phone that can live up to the demands of your busy lifestyle. You need a phone that will simplify life, not complicate it. The Nokia E71 is a life coach in a beautiful, slim device (slimmer than the rest, allowing you more room in your purse and pockets) that can help you maintain a balance between work and life.

The full QWERTY keyboard makes texting and email a breeze and let's face it - you can't do business on a phone without one (if you're doing work on a flip phone, you might as well be doing it on a typewriter).

The Nokia E71 runs on Symbian OS - Nokia's mobile operating system and one of world's most popular - so you get a reliable phone that does what you need it to when you need to do it.

Of course you're going to want to use the calendar and email functions, but you're going to love the dedicated one-touch keys (home, calendar, contacts, email) and accelerated scrolling with the NaviKey (with notification light) that allow you to work quickly.

When you're making a call, why be all 1992 about it with regular dialing when you can voice dial. That way, you can do two things at once (and you're going to do two things at once anyway, so why not at least make it easy on yourself?). And you'll want to set your phone to have it tell you who's calling as well. Just listen for the identification and you'll know whether it's worth stopping what you're doing. Talk about working smart!

The built-in GPS isn't just for work, you know (girlfriend getaway, ASAP) and the 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus and flash allows you not only photos (you're going to want pics of that getaway), but video. Yeah, that's right - you just stepped up your game this much.

And I could go on and on, but there's a ton of reasons you'll love it and why it was named "Test Best Cell Phone" in Wired's November issue.

And I bet you just want to go out and see for yourself.

Go to Nokia and find a store near you. The E71 is waiting for you.

Say Goodbye to Your Landline With the XLINK BT Cellular Gateway

Good grief. Are you still paying for a landline?

Well, get rid of it, for goodness sakes! But hold onto those corded and/or cordless phones - you're going to need them.

See, the XLINK BT Cellular Gateway is about to change your life FOREVER!

The way it works is this - The XLink BT connects up to three cell phones to regular corded or cordless telephones. Using Bluetooth wireless technology, the XLINK BT allows you to use your cellphones via your handheld regular phones - even if you don't have a landline!

I know, amazing!

Leave your cellphone where they are - as long as they're in range of the XLINK, you can keep your cell in its charger for as long as you need to. When your cellphone rings, pick up one of your old phones. Make a call using your regular phone.

How much more convenient and comfortable is that?!

You'll save yourself big bucks by canceling your landline and you can work with comfort and ease. And you won't have to worry about connections about more - you won't have a problem getting a strong signal now.

Oh, and in case that's just not awesome enough - XLINK gives you 60 minutes of free long distance available with every unit.

It's one of the most ingenious, helpful household and office products you'll ever come across.

Buy yours now and set yourself free.

Finally! Woo woo!

Streamline Everything With the Pogoplug!

Look, I don't expect you to get as excited about technology as me. I know that I'm a computer geek.

But you don't have to be techno savvy at all to use a Pogoplug.

In fact, that's the beauty of it.

See, I know that you live on your computer as much as I do. You may not be writing html or researching safe seafoods, but I do know that what's on your computer is as valuable and necessary to you as mine is to me.

The Pogoplug is a multimedia sharing device - what that means is that it connects your external hard drives to the internet so that you can grab and/or share whatever you need off of your computer when you need it.

Watch this quick video that shows you how quick it is to use and set up.

Your digital life is now accessible whether you're heading off to work in Italy for 3 months or simply heading to a friend's house, where you want to collaborate on a project together. You can use it to access files from home while you're at work - ahhh, now this is the life!

And no doubt you live on your phone as much, if not more than your computer. The amazing Pogoplug allows you to stream videos, music and photos directly to your iPhone, Blackberry, Droid or other mobile device.

How amazing is that?

Get yourself a Pogoplug and streamline your online life so that it works with you and your lifestyle, not against you.

Oh, and just one more thing - it's one of the prettiest pieces of technology you'll ever own.

'Nuff said.

Get one now.

Check Out the Awesome USB.Brando Slim Bluetooth Keyboard!

You don't want to work more, just smarter, right?

I think it's safe to say that we're all addicted to our computers, phones and iPads.

But now there's a way to stay connected, comfortably, no matter where you are with USB.Brando's Slim Boothtooth Keyboard!

This sweet little beauty is small, sleek and oh-so-light. It's pretty soft keys are big enough that you can type with ease,, but the keyboard is small enough that you can carry it in the smallest of clutches!

It can be used with a Bluetooth enabled laptop, PC, phone and now the iPad, so no matter whether you're on a plane or in a meeting, this awesome keyboard will allow you to work in small spaces in comfort.

Which means, you'll be able to hand in that report on time for once and still have time to enjoy a drink after dinner at the hotel!

It comes with the smartest features like an on/off button and built-in rechargeable battery comes with a USB cable and CD driver.

The Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is compatible with Symbian S60, Mac OS, Windows Mobile, Window 7 / Vista / XP / 2000.

Work where you can when you can with the USB.Brando Slim Bluetooth Keyboard so that you can relax and enjoy yourself more often!

p.s. This is a great gift for Dad for this coming Father's Day, June 20th!

Caution: Brando's USB Chicken Burger 4-Port Hub Will Make You Hungry!

As a food-obsessed writer, cook and restaurant reviewer, I simply cannot get enough of food.

Looking at it, thinking about it - it's always on my mind.

That's why I absolutely, positively loooove my USB Chicken Burger 4-Port Hub from Brando.

This USB 2.0 4-Port Hub, thought made out of polyresin, looks incredibly authentic. So much so that the morning it arrived, I put it on my fella's bedside table. When he woke up, he thought it was real!

And not only does the bun, chicken burger and lettuce look like the real thing, it works on your cravings too. Guess what we had for dinner that night?!

Fully compliant with USB 2.0 specification and backwards compatible with USB 1.1, you can plug and play up to 4 of your accessories. And with a Transfer rate up to 480Mbps and supporting Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Mac OSX and Linux, you can be charging your phone, while listening to music, all the while having the coolest USB Hub on the planet!

p.s. Don't forget to get some USB BBQ Flash Drives while you're at it. Just don't be surprised if you stop for wings on your way home tonight...