I love gadgets! (Especially the kitchen gadgets.) They can be simply things, but they just make daily life a little easier. I was just wondering if anyone else has a unique, or not so unique, gadget or product they just can't live without. (I might decide I can't live without it either. )

Here are 2 of my favorite gadgets.

(Sorry, this was the best picture I could find.) Dritz Snag Repair Snag Nab-It
I bought it on clearance at Target several years ago, and I haven't been able to find them in any stores since. It repairs snags on knits and woven fabrics. You can't tell much from the picture, but it looks like a somewhat large needle with no eye, and it's mostly textured. (The "point" end is smooth.) When you push the "needle" completely through the fabric, it grips the snag and pulls it through to the other side. The snag ends up on the inside of the fabric and cannot be seen on the outside. It's small enough that I can carry it in my wallet. (It came with a tiny vinyl sleeve.) And, when I whip it out to fix a "snag" at work (or anywhere), people are usually amazed at how well it works. It makes your clothes look like new again. I like it so much better than the "hook" type snag repair tools I see in the stores now, they don't seem to work on too many types of fabrics.

I'm also really fond of my Pop-A-Plate! I think I paid 25-cents for it at a yard sale. It's just so convenient and we use it pretty much daily. (We use paper plates for sandwiches and snacks on almost a daily basis.) It's basically a paper plate dispenser that holds a pack paper plates (100 - 9"), and you attach it underneath your kitchen cabinets. When you need a paper plate, you just pop one out! They're right there, handy and accessible. I didn't find it attractive enough to hang it underneath my kitchen cabinets though. I attached it to the underside of the shelf inside of my cabinet, so that it hangs right above my regular dinner plates. (It's out of sight and out of the way.)

So, what are some of your favorite gadgets/products, and why are they so great?
.

__________________
No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

Well, this gadget is on the expensive side, but I couldn't live without my iPhone.

__________________
Come and visit the gang at TLJ
PM me for info

I absolutely could not live without my Ipod Mini (that's right Mini NOT nano). If this thing dies, so will i.

I to love kitchen gadgets I guess I'm an unrepentant kitchen junkie!
I could not do without my microwave!(coffee pot, kitchen aid, food processor, henkel knifes the list goes on and on lol)

__________________
Always be a first rate version of your self instead of a second rate version of someone else.[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
What the country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds.

I agree with Squeak... I couldn't live without my microwave. I barely remember I even have a stove. Also, I absolutely love Ziploc Zip n Steam bags and the Ped-Egg. I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can come up with right now.

__________________
Don't dream it. Be it.

I'm not a gadget person, but I couldn't live without my LL Bean fleece robe that is regularly $70 that I got for $5 at the LL Bean outlet. I also couldn't live without my LL Bean "Wicked Good Slippers."

Pssst.....have you read up on the NEW iPhone?

__________________

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

I love my pressure cookers. I have 2 sizes.

We use our Sunbeam Hot Shot all the time.

Yes! And if you were ever thinking of taking the iPhone plunge, this would be a great time!

__________________
Come and visit the gang at TLJ
PM me for info

I have a jar opener that I love love love. I have a 10 month old so with all the jars of baby food, it comes in handy.

I love my Roomba (vacuum robot) and my Tivo.

Tivo Tivo Tivo

__________________
@@@
l/ l/ l/
Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

I recently pick up a PedEgg, and I love it!
My DVR, I can't really watch a Tv show live anymore, I find myself annoyed by the commercials!
My Swiffer Vac and Wetjet
My Blackberry, though I'll admit my interest is seriously peaked by the Iphone.
Mr Clean Eraser

__________________
Nicole

LOL!!! Love your username oldandintheway! I doubt it's true, but it's very humorous. (cute!)

I agree with you & squeek, I couldn't live w/o my microwave either! And, even other kitchen essentials for that matter (coffee maker, toaster oven, etc.)!

Thanks for all the replies! They all sound like great products, wish they were all in my budget! (LOL) I was basically just trying to find out what other "unique" products people may be unknowingly keeping to themselves and maybe even taking for granted. Something that may not be so mainstream, but they use it all the time and don't realize how much they'd miss it if they didn't have it. I guess I'm looking for recommendations for "unique" products. What is it? What does it do? And, why do you love it so much? Like I said, I might decide I need one too! Give me some insight on your favorite products.

I've thought about getting the Ped-Egg for DH before, he's mentioned it himself. Since you love it, I'm assuming it works as well and easily as they advertise it on TV? DH has ROUGH feet!

grannyshirl I've never owned/used a pressure cooker before, but I've wondered if I should. What makes it so great? Does it cook faster/better than other methods? What's the 411?
Sunbeam Hot Shot?.... That's something I'd never concidered before. I can see how that would come in handy for hot beverages and adding hot water to recipes. Is there anything else you find it useful for?

ChefRusso I've come to the conclusion that it won't be too many more years before I might need a jar opener myself. (DH & DS aren't always around to open jars when I need them.) I think I'm developing arthritis in my fingers. What brand to you recommend?

jnsp99 I always thought I'd love a Roomba! But, I'm afraid with 8 cats it would probably choke to death. Or, at least it would run and hide and probably try to escape if it got the chance! (LOL) How well does it work? Does it work on carpet? Strong vacuum? How often do you need to empty it?

.

__________________
No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

Wow and when I thought about a Roomba I envisioned my fat old Tabby riding it from room to room because she's so lazy.

__________________

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

I love my electronic fly swatter.I can finally kill spiders all by myself without having to even get near the spider.

My microwave, food scale, and my dollar tree whisk.

__________________
I've never lied to you. I've always told you some version the of truth.

What is a Ped-egg and a Tivo????
I love my crockpot, roomba, Mr Clean eraser, microwave and offset spatulas ( three sizes- I cake decorate as a hobby)

Ped Egg Official Site, As Seen On TV

TiVo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

__________________
Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

MsMiser - My Roomba works fantastic. I have a dog that sheds sooo much - we thought we would break it. But nope - still going strong and we run it at least twice everyday!

Foodsaver- I wouldn't make it a week without it.

But I also love my faucet sprayer- it isn't the usual one- it is probably 4 inches long white flexible hose- you can see at leevalley.com item #AK220. I can fill pots, swish out the sink...I am wonder woman with it. I have it on the kitchen sink not on the laundry sink. It would be great there, too but I only got one.
Brick clips are another favorite. My porch has one wall which is the outside brick of the house. I hang all my favorite large photos there with the brick clips.
I just got my husband a Maxell FM transmitter at Thingfling.com for the incredible price of $13.98 for 4 shipped. He can listen to his zune in the car or where ever there is a radio with speakers. Even he was blown away. I bought a REALLY expensive one for Christmas but never could get the damn thing to work so I returned it before I ever wrapped it up as a gift. When this one showed up n Thingfling I was really suspicious but I thought oh well, for the price let's give it a try. I am delighted that I bought 4- one for each car, one for the stereo system etc.
There are a bunch more but I will start with these.

__________________
Lyn Clarke

A pressure cooker cooks really fast and can make the tougher cuts of meat very tender.
It is a real time saver for me.

We drink a lot of tea, hot chocolate, some instant coffee and the Hot Shot heats the water in seconds. You are not to put anything in it except water.

We have used one for over 20 yrs and worn out 2 or 3 of them

Shirley

Bob.......

__________________
Calling a illegal alien an "undocumented immigrant" is like calling a drug dealer an "unlicensed pharmacist."

HAHAHAHAHAHA!!

__________________
Come and visit the gang at TLJ
PM me for info

ItsJustMe, I'm not even gonna ask, lol.

I could NOT live w/o my blackberry, my DVR and my laptop.

__________________
"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? " ~Epicurus

I think my DVR.

Kitchen Gadget wise....My pizza cooker. DS east so many frozen pizza's that are so crispy and crunchy with my Pizzamax. We just love it!

PizzaMax Pizza Oven - Pizza to the Max! | Kitchen Contraptions - KitchenContraptions.com

__________________
Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

MsMiser- mine is a Black & Decker Lids Off....it comes in handle for everything not just baby food jars. You just turn the bottom plate and it adjusted to the size of the bottom of the jar. I <3 it!!

Those are very nice. I got one at Kamrt on clearance for $4.00

__________________
Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

My DVR, hands down. I can't imagine watching TV without it. I also really use my toaster oven alot. You can heat pizzas and other things in there without turning on the oven and heating up the house.

Can't forget the most important, could not do with out, THE CROCKPOT!!! Use it all the time!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~lynclarke I sent you a PM!

.

LOL! I can probably use one of those too, it seems I'm usually at home by myself when I find "the spider".


Thanks for the info jnsp99, it sounds awesome! I think I might have to put that on my Christmas list for DH to get me. What model do you have?


Thanks so much for the input everyone! Money's still tight right now, but I think I'm going to have to keep an eye open for a really great deal on some of these items..... B&D jar opener, Hot Shot (I think my mother would probably like these, too! It's never too early to X-mas shop. ), pressure cooker..... maybe even an electronic fly swatter!


If anyone has anymore favorites, keep posting them!

.

__________________
No outfit is complete without cat hairs!

~~~MsMiser

I got mine for free! One of my mother's friends were just gonna throw it out because she never used it! Thank gosh she didn't!

I love my Reynold's Handi-Vac. I can open a frozen box of "whatever" and put the rest in a bag that has a valve in it and vacuum the air out in seconds and throw it in the freezer. Saves room and freezer burn. I got mine at Target for about $6.99 had a $3.00 coupon and a $5.00 rebate on it so I made money on it. They sell the bags right around the Ziplocs, etc. and these can be washed and used again and again.

__________________
Living well IS the best revenge!!

My swiffervac and my dvr! I never thought I would love a vacuum!!

__________________
Longtime Mycoupons lurker since 2000.

Proud mama to Gracie 05-05-05

Pround mama to Sophie 06-04-07

reynolds handi vac i love it

msmiser, I have a nit-picker that is the same as your snap repair thingy. I got several at Hobby Lobby and gave them to my friends. I agree they save a bunch of things that would noramally look worn out

Grannyshirl- Pressure cookers are great for cheap cuts of meat and entire meals in one pot. I only use a pressure cooker for corned beef- so simple. When the meat is motly cooked, then you cool down the cooker, add the vegetables, then re-heat to finish them all. I also use it for tongue or heart---I know, I know most people do not like organs- but for the organ eaters it is terrific.

I also love a toaster oven because we like to toaster things like banana muffins or brown bread --which one can not do in a regualr toaster. We put cheese on our toast and melt it. I haven't had a conventional toaster for 25 years.

Oh- don't forget silpat sheets or the knock-off varieties. I can not use a baking pan without a silicon sheet of some kind. Makes clean up a snap!

__________________
Lyn Clarke

We love our Flowbee hair cutting system. Originally bought it in the early 90's when my DH got laid off and we had 2 small boys. Here it is 16 years later and my DH hasn't been to a barber since. My boys just started going to barbers when they went to college.

When our oldest son was younger, his friends would come over and want their hair cut with it. We would always make sure it was ok with the parents and the kids would love it.

About 5 years ago, the cam shaft went out and instead of buying a replacement part for $25 we just got a whole new Flowbee for $45 and kept the old one for additional part. We origninally paid $99 for the Flowbee in 1992 and it had paid for itself many times over. People can't believe that we do our own haircuts and they look great.

Although I love my Kitchen Aid and a lot of other things I have to say my favorite gadget is my dollar tree back scratcher. I would go crazy sometimes at night if I did not have it! My DH works graveyard and the dog won't scratch my back no matter how nice I ask!

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Tivo, Scooba (floor scrubbing robot) and the brand new iPod Touch I got for my birthday.

Sarah.........mom to Jason & Devin

I love my dvr (we hate it when we do not have ff time!)

__________________
AKA: Airbornearmywife

I love my Dyson.

Hahahaha! Why didn't I read this thread earlier?


I gotta say Tivo, I almost can't watch live TV anymore.

__________________
Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

my oxo peeler, and my magimix mixer.

I love my techie stuff too: DVR, My LG NV, my internet, my iPOD, my little tv, my digital camera.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

This is great little gadget, I got it at Home Depot.
ZIP-IT Unclog Sink, Shower and Bathtub Drains In Seconds!