Drinking

Ah, summer. Long, hot days on the beach or by the pool spent with family and friends. Or perhaps a quality afternoon in the park sounds more appealing. Imagine it: the grill going, the kids playing, a cool breeze blowing. No matter if you imagine the beach, the pool, or the park, it's a great scene that just doesn't get any better... unless, of course you had a margarita in hand. While beer and soda pop may travel extremely well in the cooler, margaritas aren't necessarily very portable. Until now.

The Margaritaville Battery-Powered Portable Frozen Concoction Maker … Read more

I think I've mentioned my love of coffee once or twice before.

Almost exactly a year ago, we told you about the latest Miele built-in coffee machine. So now it's time for an update--which comes in the form of an introduction to Miele's next generation beverage systems.

The central dispenser is height adjustable to fit espresso cups, tall mugs or decorative glasses for specialty drinks. That's a bigger deal than you might think, because an otherwise beautiful coffee experience can be marred if you have to lose some of your precious liquid gold when you try … Read more

Years ago, I stopped packing sippy cups full of juice in my kids' lunchboxes and switched to bottled water. But buying those bottles--ugh! The cost, for one, the plastic, for another--it's enough to make a mom crazy. And I love the convenience of grabbing a bottle of water to take with me on errands, but I hate, hate, hate paying for bottled water. And again with the plastic.... What's a girl to do?

Wellness h2.o is a personal, reusable water bottle. OK, I hear you saying. The girl discovered reusable plastic bottles. So what? Well, this one … Read more

Sometimes it is fun to think about what everyday objects would be like if they were just invented differently from the beginning. While I doubt the wheel would have ended up any other shape, some familiar household objects might have. One doesn't have to look far to realize the implications. Just consider chopsticks. While one side of the world was learning how to eat with a fork, the other collectively decided that using two slender rods was the best method. Objects that we are most familiar with are the ones that see the least innovation. But there is no … Read more

Father's Day is right around the bend, so you can bet on seeing a lot of gift ideas in the coming days on store shelves, like fancy ties, coffee mugs, and classy bar-inspired dishes such as these Inside Out Martini Glasses.

When your dad pulls the glasses out of the box, he might give you the kind of eyebrow raise and forced, "Oooooh, nice," that accompanies the gifts that end up collecting dust in a storage shed, because they look like ordinary drinking glasses from the outside. But pick your favorite hard liquor to pour into them … Read more

Soda and sparkling water can make up a surprisingly large portion of a grocery bill if a person isn't careful. But it is possible to bring down the cost by making your own. The Sodastream Fountain Jet can carbonate a 1-liter bottle of soda in a matter of seconds: it's a matter of mixing water and a soda syrup for a drink. Even better, the soda syrups available from Sodastream do not use high-fructose corn syrup and are better for you. There are more than 25 flavors available, in regular, diet, and caffeine-free versions. There's even an … Read more

Coffee is a specific indulgence. It should be no surprise that we have evolved into a society that requires a menu board for coffee drinks. What was once a simple equation with sugar and milk being the only variables has transformed into a gigantic industry where consumers have options galore. Whether you get your caffeine fix from a cappuccino or a latte, chances are you like said coffee exactly the same, every time. While cream, soy milk, sugar and the like may be the first considerations to any cup of coffee, temperature also plays a large role.

The Technivorm Moccamaster Coffeemaker … Read more

There's a scene in the Steve Martin classic movie "The Jerk," where Navin Johnson, the character he plays, pours himself a glass of wine--from a 5-gallon outdoor water cooler. Wine on tap may have been a novel idea back in the '70s, but in the here and now, it is not only a reality, but also a convenient way to serve and store wine.

The n2Vin wine refrigeration and preservation system uses five dispensing taps to keep your favorite wines chilled and ready to pour. The refrigeration system keeps not only your five active bottles ready, … Read more

In the effort to go green, I'm focusing on small changes that add up to big wins. I've owned up to the fact that I'm not going to give up using my dryer, for example, but I have stopped buying paper towels. Napkins are up next. I'm also encouraging my children to use real plates and silverware when we're at home, and to save the disposable things for picnics and school lunches.

However, with the beautiful summer weather upon us, I love eating outdoors. I love the mess-free kitchen after a meal eaten outside, and … Read more