Hammacher Schlemmer just released their new product catalog for Spring 2008 and it’s got lots of people in a tizzy due to it’s sheer awesomeness. For those of us no longer using outdated technology like a printed catalog need to visit their site out for the sweet items.

Inside the catalog, i-Sobot stands out from the crowd since being recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as “The smallest humanoid robot in production” and Hammacher has it at the lowest price available online. Watch the video on their site to get a taste of the robot’s impressive skills like a 200 word vocabulary, 180 programmed movements, and witty responses to verbal commands.

On the more extravagant side of the spectrum is a - perfect for summer - Single-seat Water Cycle, priced at a whopping $2,999. Basically it is a recumbent bicycle strapped to a funky kayak that can go up to 7 MPH (as fast as an Olympic swimmer, and faster than most paddle boats), as well as a lifetime guarantee from Hammacher. Get yourself in a tizzy.

Posted by Sean in Unique, Fun
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Spring is here, and the sales are sprouting up everywhere. Right now you can get an extra 25% off of already reduced prices for the Spring Cleaning Sale at BuyCostumes. More than just a costume shop, BuyCostumes is also a party supply store with great prices on party accessories for all types of party themes. They also carry awesome decor items, wigs, hats, makeup and accessories.

COUPON: Get an extra 25% off by using Coupon Code SPRING25 during checkout.

Can’t think of what you need to get? How about some Luau decorations for that backyard party this summer, or that graduation party that’s so fast approaching. Perhaps a costume for little Susy’s school project, or maybe even get a head start on your Halloween costume? Just keep your mind open and hurry up and save!

Posted by Sean in Sale, Fun
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Many of us think of everyday items like a car, clothes, electrical devices, etc. when we think of a green gift. Mable’s wants to expand your thinking to notice the things that are eco-friendly without the added manufacturing and marketing.

This blog post we are featuring Back to Basics Toys because, they carry a vast amount of wooden toys and games that aren’t just fun, but also educational and award winning. But, how is a wood toy more green?

Reasons why Wood is Good: Longevity of items (say no to planned obsolescence) , Perfect for your child’s development, Non toxic material, and many are American made, which avoids the need for shipping overseas.

Mable’s wants to remind you that everyday is Earth day and every decision we make has an effect, so let’s do the best we can everyday.

Spread the Green love in the form of books! Books have always made an easy gift, and sometimes all it takes is one book to open someone’s eyes to a world of change. So give a green gift to someone to help spread awareness from the Buy.com Green Book Store.

Posted by Sean in Kids, Fun, Green Living
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In honor of leap day I’d like to invite you all to start jumping to conclusions. Thanks to modern science we are all able to easily jump to conclusions by simply leaping forward in a particular direction. Simply amazing. Also included in the official Office Space Kit is a mini red stapler, Initech mug, TPS reports, starter “flair”, “Is this Good for the Company” sign, and a sticker for a copy machine that says “PC Load Letter.”

All this for only $12.99.

What does this mysterious “Jump to Conclusions” Mat look like? Find out.

Posted by Sean in Nerd, Fun
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Maybe it’s the post-holiday burnout talking, but peppering the remaining days of my winter break with prank calls sounds perfect. I can stay in my jammies all day, and in-between bites of leftover cake and Tofurky, I can spice things up with technology-assisted pranks.

With a SpoofCard you can make any number show up on caller ID. Let your intended prank victim think that the White House or someone from prison is calling. In fact, any 10 digit number can be used so similarly mind-boggling numbers like (000) 420-5150 could also be employed. For extra sneakiness, SpoofCard can change your voice from female to male (or vice versa) and they record your calls so you can giggle over them later. Oh man, why wasn’t this service available about 10 years ago?

As if SpoofCard didn’t offer enough ways to cause some trouble, LiarCard is the ultimate resource for telephone tomfoolery. Using voice analysis technology to discover the truth, LiarCard can “detect if your subject is excited, confused, stressed, unwillingly sharing information, anticipating your responses and even if your friend really likes you”. In addition to a web control panel that shows all the call details, a buzz is heard when the called party is suspected of lying. Yah, it’s got a lot of potential to really simplify or complicate your life. Studies show it to be over 95% accurate, but there’s one catch: your intended victim has to be “sane”. I’m not kidding, I read it in the fine print.

Both services are pre-paid cards that you can order online and start using immediately. SpoofCard and LiarCard have been around for a few years so you can Google their names to read stories about them from all the major news outlets. So choose your targets wisely and have fun pranking!

COUPON: Save 10% off SpoofCard when you use coupon code SS10. Expires December 31, 2007

Posted by Lauren in Fun, Gadgets
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It’s been a couple years or so now since we’ve been thinking how nice it would be to be able to turn any digital image into a wall decal. You can decorate your walls with literally any design of your own or, what seems to be fairly popular, get a near life size cutout of your child enjoying their favorite activity. Being able to display your favorite scenic picture you actually took yourself on your one trip out of this county up to 7 feet wide on your bedroom wall also crosses our minds as we think of the awesome possibilities Wallhogs can provide.

Printing options include the removable, reusable vinyl, glossy poster, or quality canvas. There is no minimum order, so you don’t have to order a bunch, and they encourage using your own photos although you can browse through what they offer as well.

Sarcasm alert. If you’re influenced by popular culture and the general census, then you’ll feel comfortable knowing bands and celebrities such as Gwen Stefani, Social Distortion, Offspring, and more are partnering with Wallhogs to let you put their logo/image on your wall to view everyday!

This could also make a great gift for the holidays by getting a life size removable vinyl decal of a new bike for your kid and set it up in their bedroom before they wake x-mas morning. Then film the results, put it on YouTube and send a link to the entire family. You might want to actually have the real bike waiting in the next room though. Maybe save money this holiday season on traveling by taking a family photo and send it to Grandma so she can put it on her wall instead of flying across the country. These are all viable options I’d like to officially suggest. If you have any official suggestions of your own please leave a comment as I’d like to know more. Check out their user submissions for more ideas.

Posted by Sean in Household, Unique, Fun
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Halloween is less than 60 days away and you know you always wait until the last minute to buy your costume. Why stress yourself this year? Do yourself a favor and start browsing the new costumes for the year over at Mable’s Halloween Costumes section. We recently re-designed it and made it easier to find the costume you’re looking for or get ideas for what you want. Check out the hundreds of new costumes; for men, women, kids, and even pets.

Halloween had always held a special place in our hearts, even when it’s the middle of Spring, which is why we created 365 Halloween just over a year ago. To get you into the spooky spirit we invite you to take a look at our Halloween recipes, creative costume ideas, and haunted homemade decor. We encourage those DIY spirited folks to submit their Halloween flavored crafts and creations to 365 Halloween so others who believe Halloween should be more than one day can get their fill throughout the year.

Good things come to those who plan ahead, which is why we’d like to spread the word about how to get 10% off and free shipping from BuyCostumes. Get 10% any order of $20 or more by using the coupon code bat91. Get your order total to $40 or more and they will even throw in free shipping*. Of course this wont last forever so be sure to order by the end of day on Sunday Sept. 9th, 2007.

Posted by Sean in Sale, Halloween, Fun
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Thanks for everyone who entered the contest, it’s always a good time when we get to give away free prizes rather then talking about buying them The summer time heat was calling to us and we had to get out and have some fun, just like you should be doing. OK, we also did a lot of working on Mable’s, and we will be unveiling almost a whole new website this August. Stay tuned or subscribe to our RSS feed to stay current.

So while there is still some scorching heat out there be sure to not only take the time to relax, but have fun, stay safe, and be sure to capture the special moments especially if they’re underwater.

While we were on a mini summer vacation we heard news of a new online store that gives away free overnight shipping. Now that’s a deal in itself, but right now, during a limited time promotion their overnight shipping is NEGATIVE $5! Yep, they give you $5 to allow them to ship to you overnight. Now that’s a deal! Check out the super deals on shoes and handbags over at Endless.com.

Also, just as a reminder, Mable’s favorite holiday, Halloween is coming up shortly and the new costumes are out on display, so check out our updated Halloween Costumes section and start thinking of who, or what you’ll be this year.

Posted by Sean in Sale, Fun
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We have our winners! Congrats to Lacey who won our Grand Prize and Naomi who won our 2nd Prize. Thank you to everyone who participated!

At Mable’s, summer is our favorite season and we’re so glad it’s finally here! We believe that you don’t have to be school-aged to have an absolutely fantastic “summer vacation”. So how are you spending your time so far? How do you wish you could spend your summer vacation? Tell us about your summer (real or imagined) and you can win a prize pack of goodies from Mables.com. Maybe you already visited a certain person or place, or maybe you dream of fantastical summer adventures; whatever it is, tell us those ideas and wishes.

One Grand Prize Winner will get a little more summer fun with:
Transversion by Loop NYC Cocktail Wristlet Purse
Set of 4 “winky vision” Pink Elephant Coasters
12 oz. Retro-Themed Cocktail Shaker
Set of 100 Cocktail Mermaid drink markers
Set of 75 Cocktail Squid drink markers

A 2nd Prize Winner will receive the following goodies:
Set of 4 Tiki Coasters
12 oz. Retro-Themed Cocktail Shaker
Set of 100 Cocktail Mermaid drink markers
Set of 75 Cocktail Squid drink markers

How to Enter
In the comments, write about either a) how you’ve actually been spending your summer vacation or b) how you wish you could spend it. You don’t have to identify if your flash fiction story is truth or fiction. Make it at least a short paragraph, and as long as you want.
Use the e-mail address where you would like to be contacted if you win. Your email address will only been seen by the Mable’s Crew and will never be shared or sold.

The Fine Print
Contest runs from July 5, 2007 - July 31, 2007
Open to U.S. residents only, ages 18 and older

Make your entry as true or imaginative as you’d like. Just keep it fun! Here are some examples:

This summer I’ve spent the 9-5 hours at work, but everyday when I clock out I head to the beach. I watch people lounging, playing and surfing, look for seashells, and just breathe in the fresh, salty air. It helps me unwind, and it’s really fun for me as well. I only get about a half hour before I have to head home to make dinner and just go about the rest of my day, but that half hour at the coastline is what has made this summer beautiful.

On the first day of summer this year I packed up a little suitcase, hopped in my propeller plane, and have been traveling the globe every since. I’ve soared over the pyramids in Egypt, nearly skimmed the rainforests of Belize, soared above the mountains of India, and grazed the black sand beaches of New Zealand. By the end of summer I will have visited just about every place that I’ve ever dreamed of! I guess I’ll have to visit the rest of them next summer…

Good luck and have a great summer everyone!

Posted by Lauren in Contest, Fun
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Shopping for toys can be so hit and miss. Sometimes you’ll be sure you bought the perfect gift only to watch the recipient wrinkle his nose. Short of bringing your child to the store and saying “just pick something off the shelf”, your best bet in finding a kid-pleasing toy is picking an award winner. These have passed critiques by kids, parents, and industry experts. Gaining praise from iParenting, Oppenheimer, Dr. Toy, and Parent’s Choice, the imaginative Award Winning Toys section on eBay contains some genuinely rad toys. Standouts for me are the Alex Puppet Theatre, and the funky little Whoozit Activity Spiral. Every product encourages imaginative play or is an educational toy, so they’re gifts you can feel good about giving, too.

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Fun
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A few years ago I purchased a star projector toy, imagining and hoping that it would transform my bedroom into my very own planetarium. Like many people, stars and starlight have always held a special fascination for me. Who doesn’t enjoy stargazing every now and then? Those teeny twinkling specks of light remind us of the enormity of the galaxy, and are just so beautiful to behold. Well, imagine my disappointment when said child’s toy failed to create anything resembling a sky full of stars. Instead I saw blurry smears over a small section of my ceiling. I packed up the plastic hunk of junk, returned it to the manufacturer, and wondered if I would ever get that starlit bedroom that I so dreamed of.

Fast forward a few years and someone finally got it right! The Laser Star Projector is not a toy and promises to “fill any room from the tiniest bedroom to the largest warehouse with a crystal clear animated star display“. Yes, it’s animated, too! You’ll see thousands of green laser stars and blue clouds (along with the occasional shooting star) that are constantly moving and morphing. Everyone who sees it in person supposedly has an OMG moment, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself.

OK, I may not have a jetpack or servant robot yet, but this kind of technology will pacify me for now.

Also available @ Think Geek

$189 (with Free Shipping @ Perpetual Kid)

Posted by Lauren in So Pretty, Fun, Gadgets
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It’s summer time and we’re all going to be spending a lot more time in our pools. You may not have one, but your neighbor probably does, and you’ll go to at least a couple pool parties this summer, right? Well then the only thing stopping you from being the coolest pool party guest or host is having a motorized pool lounger … or two.

Seriously though, who wouldn’t want a ride on this sweet double joystick double thrusters pool lounger that can not only get you from one end to the other with out getting wet, but can do 360 spins? Weeeeeeeee!!! To top it off this bad boy has a drink cozy, and comes with air pump so you don’t look like a chump blowing up your pool lounger with your own lungs while everyone is already having fun. Get your motorized pool lounger now.

$149.95

Feel free to kick it up a notch at your own pool party with this remote controlled floating serving tray that holds 5 drinks and 16 ounces of snacks. Just imagine yourself relaxing in your sweet crystal clear pool on your motorized lounger, drifting in the slight breeze and when the sun is too much you motor over into the shade. Then when hunger or thirst strikes you beckon your floating snacks with a flip of a button and chow down. Just keep in mind that there are five 12 oz. drink holders and your bladder can only hold so much. But then again if you are by yourself and it’s your pool …

$49.95

Posted by Sean in Outdoors, Splurge, Fun
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When I first saw candy cane shot glasses, I thought they were the cutest, most clever thing… but they’re crap compared to these “Ice Shooters“ at Perpetual Kid! Seriously though, the possibilities are endless for this silicone ice mold. Remember in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory where Gene Wilder eats the little flower shaped cup that he’s drinking from? After watching that scene I became inspired to nibble on a cup myself, as odd as that sounds. Or what about making mini creamsicles? Use the mold to make orange popsicles, then remove them from the tray, fill with a creamy liquid center, and freeze again for homemade creamsicles. What a perfect summer treat! Alcohol doesn’t freeze, so the you’ll get more flexibility with non-boozy drink creations, but then again you could just use the mold as intended and fill an icy cup with a shot of your favorite liquor. For larger parties, grab a few molds or plan ahead so you can make more than 4 ice shot glasses at a time.

On Sale: $6.99

RELATED: Popsicle Molds and…

Cool Jewels Ice Cubes

Guitar Ice Stirrers

Silicone Ice Kabobs

Posted by Lauren in Fun
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People tend to use the phrase “the gift that keeps on giving” metaphorically. However, eBeanstalk offers a more literal interpretation with their Gift Series, where your child receives a toy in the mail every 3 months matched to their stage of development. This idea is all kinds of brilliant!

• For those of us without kids of our own, it can be a little tricky to select age appropriate toys for the children in our lives. You can skip the educated guesswork with the Gift Series: all the toys are hand picked by 5 child development specialists and 500 moms from around the US.
• Same thing goes for parents or guardians who travel a lot or don’t get to visit very often. When you haven’t seen a child for a few months or when you look back on the development of your own child…they are a different child today than just a few months ago. Each toy is carefully matched with the appropriate stage of development, so you won’t end up with a gift that is too young or old for your child.
• With the continual gift metaphor in mind, you can actually purchase a set of gifts that are delivered over time. This is the gift that actually keeps on giving.
• Save time by purchasing a set of gifts all in one sitting. Never worry about forgetting a special date in the child’s development or having the gift arrive late.
• If you’re the spoiling type (yes, you) then you’ll undoubtedly appreciate how easy eBeanstalk makes it to lavish gifts upon your wee ones. One purchase results in a whole years worth of gifts!
• Best of all, of the nearly 500 quality toys available at eBeanstalk, every one is geared towards helping your child grow. Their Child Specialists identified the stages of development children grow through. They matched 7 core skills- Imagination, Education, Language, Dexterity, Locomotion, Emotion and Social- with the stages of a child’s development, and then categorized each toy accordingly. Ahhh, science: improving childhood playtime and development!

Also, individual toys are available for purchase too, if you’d rather buy a la carte.

Posted by Lauren in Kids, Fun
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Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End opened today, well technically there were advanced showings last night at 8pm and midnight at some theaters. This movie can claim fame to the widest North American release ever, 4,362 theaters, and has projected making up to $200 million this weekend alone. Along with it’s fan-pleasing length of 2 hours and 47 minutes I hear this movie ties up loose ends, brings all three movie story lines together, and all the mysteries become clear to us fans. Read the split movie reviews over at Rotten Tomatoes and get a feel for what you are in for.

I hope you’ve watched the other two Pirates of the Caribbean movies on DVD within the past week to refresh your memories. Then when you get home from the third installment, you’ll undoubtedly be in the mood to dress like a pirate, talk like a pirate, perhaps even get a badge to show off your pirate name. If you can hold on to your love of pirates until Halloween then I’d suggest taking a look at the new Pirates of the Caribbean costumes coming out this year. Is your birthday coming soon, or do you just want to throw a huge pirate themed party? Be sure to check out all the pirate party supplies we’ve scrounged up from trusted online stores.

Are you looking for a new feel to your computer experience? Commandeer your entire Windows interface with a pirate theme sure to impress any scurvy swashbuckler. Available now, this pirate theme was created by Stardock Design to WOW everyone who uses it.

Posted by Sean in Fun
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