Are you still leaving a key under the doormat or flowerpot? Shame on you! The fake rock? So last century. Here's a great solution: The Sprinkler Hide-A-Key. It's realistic, unexpected, and only $4.99 from ThinkGeek.com
. While you're there, pick up a few other neat gadgets and toys, and get free shipping on orders over $75 with promo code SHINY.
My step-dog U.B. was already arthritic when I met him at age 11, and taking enteric-
coated aspirin. By 13, our Vet put him on Rimadyl, which helped a little. Then someone told me about using Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM. I ordered the bulk powders from an equestrian supply warehouse, and started sprinkling them on his food. The difference was remarkable: From a dog who struggled a bit to stand up, to a dog who regained a spring in his step. Last summer, my dog Duey started to slow down. He no longer liked running all for miles on the beach, and seemed stiff in his joints. I started him on Joint MAX Triple Strength - a pre-mixed, high-potency combination of these three joint-lubricating supplements. Today, a year older (10 1/2), he's back to long runs on the beach, and no apparent stiffness. By all means, speak to your Vet if your dog shows signs of arthritis. But before you get your dog stuck on a prescription anti-inflamatory, try Joint MAX. Save an extra $3 when you buy online at EntirelyPets.com.
Hotwire just shot me this incredible $115 rate for the brand new Sheraton Four Points Midtown hotel in Manhattan at 326 W. 40th Street. Valid for travel any day through September 12th, you need to book it by July 8th. With taxes, that's $134.89 including free wi-fi and bottled water. To book it, Click Here
, or call 212-967-8585 and mention rate plan TICKER1.
Last summer I discovered Grill Wipes, a great way to clean and grease your grill at the same time. This summer, I discovered GrillStone. While Grill Wipes are great for light cleaning, they don't address hard-core caked-on baked-on gunk. That's where GrillStone excells. GrillStone cleans faster, easier and better than wire brushes and scouring pads, without clogging, on hot or cold grills. Better still, they are non-toxic and made from 85% recycled glass! I found mine at Home Depot, but you can order online (and on sale!) at Kmart.com.
Joining the Gilt.com model of invitation-only access to limited-duration sales of marquee fashion and home decor brands is Rue La La. Membership is free, but requires a member-to-member invitation. Click here for yours.
There's a reason inkjet printers are so cheap. The manufacturers make their money on replacement cartridges. So much so, that Kodak
I remember trying on this scarf at Neiman Marcus when Philip Lim's summer collection first arrived in the store. Cute, but at $450, it was clearly a fashion choice with an exceedingly low ROI I would later regret. Today, it's on eLUXURY.com for $90. (I've made a no-new-clothing-purchases 'til September pact with my friend Sam, but it would make a lovely Christmas-in-July present ;) eLUXURY.com is getting out of the e-tailing business, and has started clearing out their inventory. All sale/clearance merchandise (including some very fancy women's shoes) is now 50% off (the sale prices listed are before the discount, which will appear in your shopping cart. Hurry -- most items are available in very limited sizes and quantities!
I've been growing tomatoes for years. This year, for the first time, I tried a red plastic mulch. For the past few years, I've mulched with seaweed -- it's easily collectible on the little island where I spend most of my summer, and contributes valuable organic nutrients to the soil as well. But I've been increasingly plagued with Verticillium Wilt, and I'm not able to rotate crops in my tiny 10x10 garden (it's all tomatoes!). So, I figured a plastic mulch might help prevent the soil-borne fungus from splashing up onto this year's plants. And I'd read about red plastic mulch increasing tomato yields and decided to give it a try. Well, my plants are growing faster, bigger and healthier than ever -- at a time when everyone else is complaining that their tomatoes are not growing as well as they usually do with the rainy weather we've had. I bought Dalen Better Reds Mulch Film
See my other garden tips and gadgets here.
The folks at Real Simple magazine tested 70 hose attachments, and named the Ray Padula 8-Pattern Series R Advanced Functionality Hose Nozzle
I converted to a gas grill years ago, but for most of my grilling youth, I was a charcoal guy, and some of my more foolish moments involved spraying additional lighter fluid on a pile of coals that hadn't quite gotten started. Then I learned about building the charcoal pyramid, and finally, I discovered the chimney. With just a few crumpled pieces of paper under a vertical stack of briquettes, it's easy to get charcoal burning without the hazards, odors or expense of that nasty fluid. Buy one online for $18.95 at Amazon.com
