The Modern Materialist

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• Quick Tip of the Day: Carry-on Bottles

  5 Things I Need In Order To Survive My Flight: Three books (one I'm already partway through, one to start when I finish the first one, and an extra one in case I miraculously finish the first extra one ) My iPod A crossword puzzle book A selection of magazines Fruit-flavored Mentos to chew on in order to prevent my ears from popping The 6th Item I'll Wish I Had: Read More... Posted Jun 18 2008, 08:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, storage, travel

• Quick Tip of the Day: Nix the Eau de Bod

  Spring seemed to last a single week, and then the heat wave was upon us. I scrambled to swap the winter and the summer clothes but, even when I'm wearing almost nothing, I still feel less than fresh as soon as I step out the door. I'd love to move somewhere that was a slightly breezy spring — or a nice, crisp fall — all year 'round, but until then, these could help: Read More... Posted Jun 17 2008, 08:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Gal Pal Saves the Day

  Is there anything worse than running late for work, grabbing a shirt from your closet, pulling it on in a rush only to get deodorant all it? I suppose losing a contact lens in the ocean, or maybe getting food poisoning on your wedding day might be worse, but the deodorant on the shirt is a close third, people. But, guess what! It actually doesn't have to be so terrible after all — if you've got this on hand: Read More... Posted Jun 13 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Flowers in a Can

  Honestly, this has to be one of the most awesome inventions ever — not quite as awesome as indoor plumbing, and definitely not as awesome as air conditioning, and probably not even quite as awesome as cheesy bread, but still very awesome in its own way. This will revolutionize the way people like me look at gardening. You don't need any land, you don't really need a green thumb, hell, you don't even need a pot: Read More... Posted Jun 10 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, flowers, Plants

• Quick Tip of the Day: This is the Pits

  Having a hard time popping your cherry? Read More... Posted Jun 09 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Krispy Kreme Goodness

  Here's a quick tip for you: if you love Krispy Kreme doughnuts, get yourself to a Krispy Kreme store stat! What's so special about today you ask? Well... Read More... Posted Jun 06 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, Food and Drink

• Quick Tip of the Day: Cooknook Cookbook

  Things I know how to cook without the aid of a cookbook: Read More... Posted Jun 05 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Handpresso

  Some people — like certain members of my family need their Prozac and Wellbutrin and Xanax to feel sane. I, on the other hand, just need the following: Read More... Posted Jun 04 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, coffee

• Quick Tip of the Day: Mess-free Corn on the Cob

  Having spent nearly all of my 31 summers in the midwest, save for a handful in Germany (this will be my first in New York!), corn on the cob has been a pretty big part of my life. Long drives through Missouri and Illinois when I was a kid, visiting family, Six Flags, Lake of the Ozarks, and exciting sites like the childhood homes of Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln, were seemingly endless rides on highways planted right through countless cornfields. Summer gatherings centered around ears of corn, from finding the "least horsey" of the batch, to new ways of eating the stuff without getting half of it caught in your teeth. Oh, if only we had one of these back in the day, maybe we wouldn't have spent so many hours flossing out corn with sticks of hey after dinner: Read More... Posted Jun 02 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Handyman's Helper

  Ten things I wish I'd thought of first: Read More... Posted May 30 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: New Blogger!

  We have a new blogger starting today! And no, it isn't a hula hoop girl... Read More... Posted May 29 2008, 08:33 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Cat Hair Lifter

  I love my cats, I really do. When I was single and lived alone, they kept me company at home and gave me someone to talk to besides my house plants. And now that we've moved to New York and in with a boy, the four of us are a happy litttle family. Life certainly wouldn't be the same without them and a day doesn't go by that I don't count myself lucky that we all found our way to each other. But, my God, the cat hair! Everywhere! On the sofa, on the bed, on the rugs, and on the curtains! Thankfully, I found a product that picks up the hair almost magically, so I don't have to live in an apartment that screams "Crazy Cat Lady": Read More... Posted May 28 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Parking Meter Alarm

  Last week, I posted about my trip to Chicago and mentioned some of my favorite places to shop there. Unfortunately, desipite some great places to spend money, lovely weather from May to November, a beautiful lake front, and Obama, there are plenty of things about Chicago that suck ass: Read More... Posted May 26 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of The Day: Flaming KitchenAids

  Let’s face it: though your KitchenAid is an awesome mixer, worthy of adoration and praise, it doesn’t look very cool. Luckily, FlameKa has you hooked up, as they produce specially formulated decals, made for your KitchenAid. There’s a ton of different designs to check out, including butterflies, cow, and this amazing Tiger Shark decal: Read More... Posted May 22 2008, 08:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, gadgets, kitchen

• Quick Tip Of The Day: Add a Solar Panel to Your Prius

  We recently took a survey, and found out that 100% of the people that read this blgo own Priuses… Uh, Prii. Anyway, everybody owns a Prius, so here’s a quick tip on how to trick out your car to make it even more environmentally friendly, and save even more money. SEV (Solar Electrical Vehicles) offers a solar panel for your 2004-2006 Toyota Prius that lets the whole car run on sunshine. In fact, you’ll (most likely) never have to plug the hybrid in again, saving electric energy, while you’re also saving on fuel. SEV estimates that you’ll make your money back on the solar panel in under three years, just from the energy savings. Pricing is available on request, and SEV suggests that the panel should be installed by professionals, though you’re welcome to tear the roof off your car by yourself. Oh, and by the way, I’m aware you don’t all own a Prius. And thanks to Will, for the tip! Check out a video of the SEV Panel in action, after the jump... Read More... Posted May 21 2008, 08:30 AM by Alex Zalben with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip, gadgets, cars, green

• Quick Tip of the Day: Every Last Drop of Peanut Butter

  Question: How can this jar help you reach every last drop of peanut butter, saving you money and sanity? Answer:   Read More... Posted May 20 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: With This Ring

  With this ring, I thee.... Read More... Posted May 19 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Get Fit in Bed

  Wouldn't it be nice if you could get a body like this without even getting out of bed? Well, maybe you can: Read More... Posted May 15 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Get Naked for the Environment

  Hey, I bet you didn't know getting naked could be so good for the environment... Read More... Posted May 14 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Blue Balls

  Question: How can these weird looking blue balls save you time and money? Answer after the jump:   Read More... Posted May 13 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip: Every Last Drop

  See this spoon? It may not look like anything special — oddly shaped, perhaps, sure, but special? Yes, it so is! It's so special, in fact, it just may change your life... Well, okay, maybe it won't change your life, but it might just revolutionize the way you eat yogurt:   Read More... Posted May 07 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, kitchen

• Quick Tip of the Day: Poop Freeze

  I love dogs, but there are so many reasons I'm glad I don't actually own one: Hate the smell of wet dog and dog breath I'd rather spend $10 a day on a sandwich, juice and a newspaper than a dog walker HATE barking as much as a random car alarm outside my bedroom window Sloppy dog kisses are not for me, and most of all, of course:   Read More... Posted May 06 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Your Fly's Open

  I prefer not to blame my creeping zipper on my expanding stomach. Read More... Posted May 05 2008, 08:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Flowers that Never Die

  Question: What's the easiest way to make sure you have pretty flowers on yor windowsill at all times?  Answer:    Read More... Posted May 02 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip, home decor

• Quick Tip: Screw - Outdoor Shower

  Too bad I don't have a money tree in my backyard (or...a backyard, for that matter). I might be able to afford this awesome outdoor shower. You just screw a regular garden hose into it and you've got an instant shower for around the pool (too bad I don't have a pool) or for a luxurious rinse under the night stars. But for the price of the shower, you could probably afford to buy part of that starr night sky: Read More... Posted May 01 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip, outdoors

• Quick Tip of the Day: Protect Your Skin

  As a redhead, I have really fair skin I have to be diligent in protecting. But it's not just redheads who should be covering up — even people with dark skin are at risk for skin cancer and, gasp, wrinkles. I've tried a ton of different subscreens, and my favorite one is the affordable Neutrogena Suncare with Helioplex line (I use the 55 for my face and the Fresh Cooling body mist for everything else). The helioplex has a bunch of brouhaha that protects skin against some UV something or other. Oh, I don't know — you can read the product description yourself, but it all sounds good, and ever since I started using it, I've stopped looking like this: Read More... Posted Apr 30 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip

• Quick Tip of the Day: Muscles, Activate

  If you're too busy to make it to the gym or hate working out, but don't really want to become a soft, flabby mess, these shoes might be of interest to you. According to the manufacturer, they activate and stimuate neglected muscles through simple walking. So, what do you think? Is wearing ugly shoes while running errands a smal price to pay for a lifted derriere, or are you better off sweating it out for an hour at the ol' gym? Vote after the jump. Read More... Posted Apr 29 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, exercise

• Quick Tip of the Day: Charmin Seat Covers

  Places where a disposable seat cover really comes in handy: Read More... Posted Apr 28 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, travel

• Quick Tip of the Day: Cut-n-Seal

  When I was a kid, my mom used to pack a lunch for me and every lunch was exactly the same: a tuna sandwich, a fruit cup, and a small bag of Pringles. I got so sick and tired of fucking tuna. I'd always try to trade with someone else, but inevitably my sandwich was turned down because it didn't have the crusts cut off. If only my mom had had the cut-n-seal when I was a kid. Not only does it cut off the crusts in one swift move, but it seals the sandwich (hence the name). Do you have any idea what a tuna pocket would have scored me back in the day? We're talking peanut butter and jelly, Ramen noodles, maybe even a Poptart! And, oh my god, my standing as coolest kid in the school would have been sealed had my mom made these: Read More... Posted Apr 25 2008, 08:30 AM by Wendy Atterberry with | with no comments Filed under: Quick tip, kitchen

• Quick Tip of the Day: Scheduling Your To-Dos

  [$202.70, Art Lebedev]  A $200 dry-erase board? Read More... Posted Apr 24 2008, 08:30 AM by Steph Auteri with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Quick tip