Jun 30

10 Outdoor Entertaining Tools You Need For The 4th Of July And Beyond!

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imageThe 4th of July is rapidly approaching and I’ve been busy figuring out how I’m going to go to all the barbecue parties and picnics I said I’d go to! (I mean, how could I say no to juicy burgers, grilled veggies and cold drinks with all my friends and family?) Anyway, I know I have plenty of capable people who can work the grill as well as Bobby Flay so I can definitely count on a delicious meal. They’ve got the grill and the charcoal ready, but the last time I went to an outdoor grilling party, I noticed that all their tools have seen better days. I’m looking to replace their ratty and singed oven mitts with a suede bbq grilling mitt instead. There are some things that they didn’t know they need too like the magic seasoning sheets that lay on the perfect flavor. For more outdoor entertaining tools that will make your 4th of July (and beyond!) tastier, check out my slideshow!

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Jun 29

Hot In The Hive: Clean and Go MO Action Figure

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imageI spent all last weekend indoors despite the beautiful weather outside. Why? Because I treated myself to a three-disc special edition set of Pixar’s Wall-E. The set is chock full of deleted scenes, audio commentary, and special clips about making the movie. That meant hours of fun for me! With any Pixar movie, there’s bound to be toys to go with it. Being at a point where I’ve been buying toys for all the kids my friends and family are having, I’ve been keeping a close eye on toys they’d like to have. Never have I really wanted to keep one for myself, until now. The Clean and Go MO is an adorable action figure I’d love to display on my bookshelf. The obsessive compulsive clean freak from the movie can actually clean your room! He comes with a little bristle roller that picks up crumbs and dust lying around. Too bad he doesn’t make cute little noises though, but that just means I’ll incorporate my own sound effects!

Price: $22.50
Who Found It: facadeindreams was first to add the Clean and Go MO Action Figure to the Hive.

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Jun 26

Hot In The Hive: iPhone App Coasters

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imageThose of the slightly younger set may not know this, but before the iPod and Mac laptops, Apple was on the brink of being obsolete. They were associated with the huge, loud computers in the school library that you could only do research on or else the librarian would throw her glasses at you. The iPod is maybe the greatest comeback product in history. It not only brought Apple back from the brink, but ricocheted them to number one in technological gadgets. Now you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t have at least one Apple product laying around the house. I’ve had an a few of the iPod variation, but I’m actually lusting over the iPhone. Well, those at Apple must have felt bad for people like me who would love to jump on the iPhone band-wagon but, for whatever reason, have not. There are now iPhone app coasters that I can also put on my table, and for the fraction of the price! These coasters come in a set of 16 “apps” and are made of MDF plywood wrapped in a vinyl and varnish. A rubber back keeps it from moving around and they’re washable and reusable! Ok, so they don’t actually allow you to pull up the weather in Tunisia or give you a recipe for “Easy Chicken Bake” with just a click of a button, but they are awesome and fun! At $60 for the entire set, these make a great gift for the i-Aficionado or for those like me who just want to rub elbows with this elite i-Group!

Price: $60.00 for set of 16
Who Found It: idabone was first to add the iPhone App Coasters to the Hive.

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Jun 25

How To Make An Argyle Fleece Throw

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imageNicole Smith is an editor at CraftStylish, a site dedicated to fashionable-fun projects and stylish how-tos. Below she shares how to make your own argyle throw, perfect for cozying up in your dorm room or taking along to the beach!

This low-sew throw gives new meaning to the phrase “college sweater-ves.” Preppy, yes, but the diamond-shaped pattern feels less stuffy in these vibrant colors. It’s super-easy with light stitching, keeps you warm on winter nights, and makes the perfect picnic blanket! You’ll Need: 2 1/8 yards (60″-wide) cream fleece, 2 1/8 yards (60″-wide) goldenrod fleece, 15 skeins of embroidery floss in cranberry, a large-eye embroidery needle, a water-soluble marker, paper and pencil, scissors, pins, and a yardstick. Get yourself equipped, then click on over to CraftStylish for the full step-by-step process, along with other fun crafts to keep you busy during the long days of summer!

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Jun 24

Cool Coasters That Keep Your Furniture (And Your Drink) Happy

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imageWith the beautiful weather these days, I’ve been keeping cool by wearing cute summer dresses and staying barefoot as long as possible. I’ve also been making use of my ice maker and blender to stay cool. Smoothies, iced tea, you name it and I’ve made it (or plan to!). Nothing beats sitting down with a cold drink, a fun book, and the afternoon passing by. But wait, don’t forget the coaster! Nobody likes excess moisture, especially your wood furniture. Whether you have a valuable antique or a cheap Craigslist find, your furniture is supposed to last. Quite unlike the fast fashion scene we’ve been experiencing, it’s hard to buy and then throw away your furniture after a season or two. So that’s why we’ve got to take care of it to keep it in shipshape. Take a look at the set of slate coasters from Crate and Barrel. You can keep track of the owners of each drink by writing your name on the coaster with a piece of chalk. Another favorite are the pinecone shaped coasters made out of durable vinyl. Take a look at my slideshow for more!

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Jun 23

Hot In The Hive: Good Chemistry Salt and Pepper Shakers

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imageThe things that usually live on a kitchen table are not the first things that come in mind when we think of cool design. From napkin holders to salt and pepper shakers, those everyday utilitarian items are often taken for granted. I used to have a boss who obsessively collected unique salt and pepper shakers, so I got in the habit of keeping my eyes open. Who knew that there was a whole world of salt and pepper shakers that were completely different from the typical glass cylinders with metal caps? Shakers come in all shapes and sizes like a rooster and hen set I found one day! If you’re a science geek or know one, then the Good Chemistry salt and pepper shakers are perfect for you. Labeled with their scientific names (well, one is completely made up but still very clever!) there’s no confusing which is which. Next time you need some salt at the kitchen table, why don’t you ask to “pass the NaCl”?

Price: $15
Who Found It: whatmedia was first to add the Good Chemistry Salt and Pepper Shakers to the Hive.

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Jun 22

Cute Things To Put Stuff In

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imageSometimes you’ve just got too much stuff. Or, perhaps, sometimes it just feels like it. As a girl with a problem with misplacing things (my friends like to apply the term “loser”), there’s no system I haven’t tried when it comes to organizing all of my loose ends. Fittingly, I get excited when I see things that can contain my things. Especially if they’re cute things that I can put those things in. When your recycled shoe box just isn’t doing it for you and your home, there’s a basket, box, bucket, cup, or tray out there to bring your room (and your pile of things) together. Now, it may not help you find where your things are — for me, there’s really no hope there — but at least it’ll help you express and articulate what impeccably good taste in decorating you have!

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Jun 19

Hot In The Hive: Drip Clips Paperclips Holder

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imageYour office is no place for fun and games, right? Everything is in its right place, from books shelved in alphabetical order and files all put away in their appropriate folders. You may want to be neat and tidy to have a conducive work space, but it doesn’t mean you can’t show your sense of humor or love of good design. But there’s always a fine line between humor and that crazy person who has their cubicle covered in stuffed animals. That’s where the Drip Clips Paperclips Holder come in! You always need a paperclip holder, so you might as well make it fun! Paperclips are one of those things that can drive you crazy in an office. They can be everywhere in your desk drawers to the floor, but you can never seem to find one when you need it. The paperclip holders keeps the paperclips in a sink-like basin with one coming out of the “faucet.” It comes with 25 paperclips that look like water drops, but any other paperclip will work too! Who says being organized can’t be fun too?

Price: $7.99
Who Found It: dopechiq was first to add the Drip Clips Paperclips Holder to the Hive.

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Jun 18

Cupcake Delivery And Cookie Delivery To Your Doorstep!

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imageMmm… cake. There’s really no substitute, is there? Sure, we can quell ice cream cravings with fro yo until the cows come home, but when a hankering for a bite (or five) of fresh, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cake and ooey gooey frosting comes along, there’s only one thing we can do: eat cake. Now stop drooling all over your keyboard and turn your attention to BuyCake.co.uk, the UK cupcake company that’s managed to catch our attention from all the way across the pond! Polka dotted, candy-covered, daisy-adorned, or simply sweet, there’s a cupcake for every occasion. We’re pretty much smitten with the Old Skool Sweetie Cupcakes, luscious morsels adorned with the candies of your childhood. Owners Catherine and Michelle bake all cupcakes, cakes, and cookies to order using only the finest ingredients (free range eggs, Belgian chocolate, Nielsen Massey vanilla) and deliver them anywhere in the UK next day for maximum freshness. Skip the flowers and send a batch of their cupcakes instead for your next occasion- their pricing is certainly reasonable. To view their mouthwatering photo gallery and find out more about BuyCake.co.uk, visit www.buycake.co.uk.
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Jun 11

Gifts for Grads: Frame the Memories!

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imageLooking for a perfect gift for the graduate in your life? Nothing could be more personal than framing a favorite photo as a gift, especially for high school grads headed off to college. I’m sure you agree – taking the time to print and frame a digital picture can take some serious effort, and is something that often is put at the bottom of the to-do list. That’s why I love this photo collage frame from personalizationmall.com: you can pick any one-line message and it is lasered into a matboard. Just print a few photos for the back! Tip: it looks even cuter when you let one photo cut across two letters. For something a little simpler for the green-loving grad, what about the Mariposa recycled aluminum frame? It’s glamorous and eco-friendly! Check out my slide show for other great photo frame gifts for grads!

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