Drinking

In spring and summer, drinks taste much better when they're icy cold, and manufacturers have come up with a vast array of ice shapes to add into your juice pitchers.

What I haven't seen yet, however, is anything like this tray of Ice Kabobs. Made out of silicone, it makes three kabobs out of ice in fun strings of shapes. You can use them as swizzle sticks for a party, cold spears in a water pitcher, or simply as an addition to your own personal glass when you're trying to cool off at home.

The Ice Kabob … Read more

Coffee lovers have it too easy. In order to enjoy their favorite brew, all they have to do is head down to the corner. Chances are there will be a caf? on one of those four corners (if not on the way). For those that prefer to make coffee at home, there are numerous ways to go from bean to brew, and once a method (drip, espresso, French press, etc.) is determined, usually all that is required is finding a consistent grind. Not so with tea lovers, the magic in tea is usually unlocked by temperature and steeping time. Since … Read more

Shot glasses come in every color and are available with just about any logo. The 12 Gauge Shot Glass still manages to stand out, however, with an appearance that isn't so different from a shot gun shell. This shot glass is red plastic, with a metal base, offering an advantage over other glasses; this shot glass is less likely to get broken when a friend slams one back. The side is stamped with the words, "12 Gauge Shot Glass," in white, and the glass appears similar to an empty shell--at least until you fill it up. The … Read more

Many juicers require you to stop the process partway through, so you can pour off the juice you've already squeezed. If you want more than just one glass, fresh juice may turn into quite a production. The CitrusMate Plus, from Black and Decker, has simplified juicing, however. It's an automatic juicer with a large capacity, and it comes with both small and large cones. You can juice lemons and limes just as easily with the CitrusMate Plus as you can juice oranges and grapefruit. Whatever fresh fruit you want to turn into a tasty beverage, you can juice … Read more

It's amazing how easily I can fall in a love with a good-looking appliance, even If I don't need it. Kalorik's new Aqua collection of small appliances includes a lovely cordless kettle for boiling water without having to turn on a stovetop.

My kitchen is already home to an instant hot water tap, a large hot water urn, a stovetop, and an old-fashioned kettle. And yet, there's something about this kettle that beckons me. This is the kind of kettle you can serve from at the dining room table and just smile knowingly when your guests … Read more

Presentation is everything. And $20 price tags don't hurt either. Why blend the boring old-fashioned way, when you could be blending in style? In style, that is, with a tornado.The Vortex Portable Mixer is powered by a 9000rpm motor that quickly and effectively mixes whatever liquid-based material you put in it.

Although it is mainly designed and marketed toward protein shake drinkers (who would rather avoid nasty bits of dry clumps in their beverage), the portable mixer has numerous uses. For example, a spinning (and dizzying) tornado in a bottle could be a fascinating twist on old-timey cocktail … Read more

I returned home from five weeks out of the country to discover that the mail hold I'd enabled was essentially rendered meaningless by the zealous work of public relations companies, which had stacked no fewer then 12 UPS packages neatly on my front porch.

My favorite was the company that included fresh flowers with their package. The flowers, I'm sure, were fresh back on March 25 when they were delivered. But I digress. Among the packages, I found some gems I'll tell you about in the next few days, starting with the very cool Contigo Autoseal drinkware. … Read more

As a means of saving money, I've started to make my own coffee at home as often as possible. I've made enough pots in my French press to know how to get the brew just like the corner store does it, extra thick and black without being too bitter. This works out to the mutual benefit of my roommates, since I usually make a whole pot and don't drink all of it (although I've been known to do it every once in a while).

But sometimes, a girl's just got to get something a little … Read more

Ah, the hostess gift. Sure, if you're desperate, you can grab a bottle of wine from your rack and stop by the dollar store to pick up a wine bag on your way to the party. But if you're a little bit creative, you can give a gift your hostess will enjoy, remember, and even appreciate.

This set of six plastic "crazy glow" cups from Oriental Trading Company is fun and sure to brighten any gathering. The glow swirls around the 12-ounce cups for up to 6 hours and turns ordinary drinks into something special. At $… Read more