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.

Old School Meets New School with the Fun RetroFit TV

Sometimes I miss the old way we did things.

Like slipping a fresh piece of paper into a typewriter and clacking your way through a letter or rotary dial phones, where calling someone long-distance required a fare amount of finger strength.

I still dress up for dinner's out, prefer diner coffee to Starbucks, and send letters and cards by mail, so I remain a little old-fashioned, despite loving HTML, SEO and all of my technological gadgets that keep me tuned in and locked down.

RetroFit TV is the perfect marriage of past and present. Suitable for iPhones and the iPod Touch, you simply pop your device into the old school looking TV tray, slide the tray into the sleeve, prop up the stand and sit back and enjoy watching TV the way you used to.

Whether you're at home, on a plane or train or having a party, RetroFit TV is the best way to watch videos, movies and TV reruns.

I suggest having a TV dinner while you watch to complete the experience.

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?

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!

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!

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.]

ZAGGbuds Keep Up With Your Busy Lifestyle

I can't live without my music.

Whether I'm rockin' out at my desk or on the subway to a meeting, I've got my tunes pumped.

ZAGGbuds gives you the flexibility you need with their incredibly well-designed cord.

First of all, it's nice and long, so no matter how many bags your toting or how many layers you're wearing, you've got as much cord as you need to be comfortable while weaving your way through crowds in the downtown core, or if you're running to catch your flight down south. Turn this way and that, reach over to grab that sandwich or hail a cab - the cord will follow.

The cord has a tough polyurethane coating, which makes it virtually tangle-free, so if you're like me and you stash your earbuds at the bottom of your purse, you don't have to spend 10 minutes like a dweeb trying to untangle them.  There is also great little sliders that not only allow you to adjust the length, but keeps your buds around your neck until you're ready for 'em.

Ahh.

Which, as the busy person you are, you know the pain of having to take off and put on your ear buds throughout the day. This will save you much time and effort.

And because fashion is still of importance to you, the cord comes in 7 colour combos, so match it to your look, or be daring and get colours that contrast.

There's nothing worse than your earbuds popping out (this used to happen to me all the time). But you don't have to worry about that with ZAGGbuds because you get a bunch of earbud adapters so that you can fit them to you.

Which means the music never has to stop, unless you want it to!

Shop for ZAGGbuds now.**

**They also come with a sweet 45-day money-back guarantee and 1 Year Manufacturer's Warranty and work with many gadgets and sytems including the iPhone.

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.

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!