August, 2009

Your child did it first, making jewelry from cereal like Cheerios and Fruit Loops. Now a designer has taken that trend from preschool to runway, but this time, it's not actually edible so you don't have to worry about your purchases going soggy like this morning's breakfast.

With the days of summer drawing to an unofficial close, there are summer music festivals taking place around the world to wish it adieu. Finding all of the things you need to survive roughing it in the sub-standard living conditions can be a challenge, but not with one UK business making everything easily accessible.

When you go out to a nightclub, after a couple of drinks, it can be a big job to keep an eye on your cocktail, so what would you think of drink bouncers to do it for you? Sadly, it might not be exactly what you think (or what I hoped it was), but it will help keep you protected when you're ready to kick back.

Sometimes it's hard to decide on a look, even when it comes to a watch, but with an innovative new design that's no longer an issue, and you don't even have to go out an invest in multiple styles!

Propeller Island Hotel in Berlin, Germany is among the strangest and funkiest places to stay in the world. This certainly isn't your typical Motel 6; find out why at this cool hotel you'll have an experience you'll never forget.

You've heard of someone having a potty mouth, right? Well at Taiwan's Modern Toilet restaurant you can almost take that statement literally based on their décor and plating methods.

Mighty Mini Speakers look like your favorite audio equipment and bring a little punch to your keyring. Never be without music again.

Many of us have aspirations to be crafty but don't know where to start or are just too busy to do the legwork to research and acquire all the materials that are needed to start the project. Despite our best intentions, sometimes things fall to the wayside because there's just too much effort that needs to go into getting started.

It's rare to see someone walking down the street or sitting on public transportation without headphones or a pair of earbuds attached to their ears, because as a society we've really become iPod addicts. But, headphones and earbuds just aren't fashionable, so to take them from simply a functional necessity, one company has recently turned them into attractive accessories.

Ok, I know, you think you've seen them all before - all kinds of companies are creating maps and travel guides for tourists, and many offer customizable options online. Well, you haven't seen it all just yet, because one company is going back to basics and incorporating more creativity and even some art into the creation of their unique brand of travel guide.

Sometimes the appeal is not the fashion itself, but what it's made from. Check out these strange, cool and innovative fashions which are all interesting for the materials used in the design, but not necessarily about the style of the fashions themselves.

It took a Beautiful Mind to develop Game Theory. A Footloose actor to popularize 'Six Degrees of Separation.' Now Social Network Analysis has pushed the envelope on both these theories for security purposes. However how does this new form of analysis affect our privacy rights? Will our future innocence or guilt be based on mathematical formulas?

You know that expression one man's (or woman's in this century) trash is another man's treasure? Well, there are companies that thrive on this old tried and true saying.

Have you ever found yourself somewhere just thinking, damn I could use a new pair of jeans? Good news, a denim vending machine might just make these desires come true.

You've heard of cockapoos, right?  A cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle.  How about a pandapoo?  No, you can't breed a poodle and a panda, but you can groom the poodle to look like a panda... and several other creatures!

Women get all the luck when it comes to customizing their own fashions - from clothing to purses and other accessories - our opportunities to put our own design stamp while someone else works the needle and thread, are virtually endless. Now, one company is allowing men to design their own fashions too.

Amazon Green is a new category on Amazon.com where all the eco-friendly products that Amazon sells can be located; it's a handy way to find things.  If you would like to find your thing -- your time, money, or energy saving invention -- on Amazon Green, then here's your big chance to score big!

As if Urban Outfitters isn't already well on its way to total global domination (within all the limits of human welfare standards and eco-friendly principles of course), they've introduced a new line of products to further expand their business, and these are accessories that can be coordinated with your outfit but won't necessarily be worn out to a dinner party.

The Kyjen Company has made a niche for itself producing a line of plush interactive toys for dogs.  Do the toys test intelligence, as Kyjen implies in its marketing?  Well... they do keep dogs stimulated and encourage hunting and hiding behaviors, natural instincts of dogs.

This summer, StartupNation held the Leading Moms in Business Competition which asked Americans to vote on their favorite businesses run by busy moms and women out of the thousands of submissions that were received. The top leading moms in business were whittled down to 200, and here are the top 10 who lead the competition! Many of these entrepreneurs aren't just mothers with businesses - most of them can thank motherhood for their ideas and success!

Sunglasses are not always convenient for those who are heavy into sports, because they can easily result in damage, but now there are contact lenses that help filter the sunlight by imitating the way that animal's eyes filter light.

Soak Media has a unique marketing plan that it delivers to its clients to increase visibility and increase clientele. Although it seems like they're onto something by capturing a unique, niche market in branding, their concept is also a controversial one because it doesn't abide by the eco-conscious trends that we're so heavily focused on today.

Despite the fact that an umbrella can be an adorable enhancement to a child's outfit when well-coordinated, it can really put a damper on their childhood antics when they lose the use of their hands and are forced to struggle to keep their umbrella upright against the wind. A fun and funky solution helps kids to be kids, and it's a fashion that's totally out of this world!

Not all businesses are about monetary profit, and there's a pop-up restaurant and café that serves some sweet treats in an attempt to alleviate tension amongst socioeconomic groups and different races by bringing them together.

In the world of hourly wage jobs, it's not as easy as calling in sick because you have the sniffles, or saying you can't come in because of a scheduling conflict once you've found out that your favorite band is playing. In the corporate world this might fly, but in the world of hourly wage jobs, if you don't show up, there's going to be some grumpy people who haven't been able to get their morning coffee fix. Have My Shift is a company that is making shift exchange more possible, by introducing modern methods.

Traditional methods of monitoring basal body temperatures for couples who are trying to get pregnant are either invasive or kept under a strict schedule, which isn't always convenient and can result in missing out on the most fertile times to try for pregnancy. A new wearable gadget helps women receive accurate readings whenever and wherever.

As part of an art project by Demitrios Kargotis, there is a unique vending machine that dispenses a surefire cure for the blues. Keep on reading to find out what it does and how it works!

With the Star Trek movie still playing in many theaters across North America, it's definitely playing on our minds and making its way into fashion as well. Airwalk has released a really cool design of kicks that even the non-Trekkies are sure to appreciate.

The need for convenient healthy snacks, often delivered to homes or offices, has bred a large number of businesses because let's face it, people like things better when they're easy! Well, there's a new one on its radar, and this one hits close to home for me, coming to your from Toronto, Canada.

Lego is possibly the material that is easiest to design and build with, and it also has a fun and whimsical element to it. As a result, it's not surprising that so many designers are embracing it...just like a kid in a candy store; or rather, a kid with a bucket of Lego.

There's a new trend on its way for fall 2009, and it might be a hit, or it might be a gigantic miss. The latest trend involves hybrid footwear of two styles that are typically reserved for two very different seasons.

Some of the most successful businesses are those that take their common concepts to new levels with simple marketing concepts. Specialty's café and Bakery certainly has been taking notes, because they've added a unique service to benefit those who frequent their chains.

Believe it or not, the recession is affecting the number of visitors frequenting pubs and bars across London and the UK, or in the very least, the number of drinks that people have when they do make it through the door. In an effort to boost the business of these struggling establishments and send more customers stumbling on home, pubs across the UK and England are signing up to join the Use Your Local network which combines drink service with another type of product delivery.

Tough girls like to be pretty too, and one stylish yet freaky fashion accessory is actually multi-purposeful, with its weapon meats jewelry design.

Vending machines are the ultimate businesses of convenience. There's nothing that's better than having just about anything you need available at the touch of a button, without the need to deal with annoying salespeople working on commission, or worrying about hours of operation. So once again I bring you some of the coolest vending machines spotted around the world!

A gym's a gym, right? Regardless of where you choose to workout, you'll find all the same standard equipment. Well, with so many gyms worldwide offering similar service, it can be difficult for one to really capture the industry. Forget enticing membership promotions, one gym in the UK is making their name with a very unique form of weight lifting equipment.

 Seldom do you see a simply designed, inexpensive gadget that's easy to use and functions perfectly... But here we have the Wine Wedge, which is all of the above, plus it's easy to keep clean!

Shedding pet to my left!  Allergic girlfriend to my right!  Oh, what shall I do?????

Get a Shed Ender, perhaps?

Fall is just around the corner, and I thought I'd remind you to start scouting out  your dog's back-to-the-city wardrobe. The Shabby Dog, "For All Dog Kind" has some stunning new fashions in ready-to-wear, including coats, tees, harnesses, bows, collars, and leashes... plus some new beds, blankets and bowls your pooch will love.  They are totally shabby chic!

If you live in a big, urban city, you might have a strong focus on fashion, but don't you also find that you miss the quieter life, sights, sounds and accessories included? Well, now designers have created a unique line of fashion accessories that make a bold fashion statement, and also help you reconnect with nature.

There's nothing better than being able to buy just about whatever you need where you need it most, and when you're at a hotel pool without a swimsuit and nudity is neither encouraged nor appreciated. Fortunately for those who find themselves in this predicament, a popular swimsuit brand is teaming up with hotels to bring board shorts and bikinis poolside.

Ever see a chameleon?  They are known for being able to stick to almost anything with their feet, and some of them even change colors.  Here's a chameleon that not only has sticky feet and changes colors, but it also sings!

Finding a doctor can be hard, and it's even more difficult to search for one that can give you appointments when you need them or that is compatible with your insurance plan. One online business eliminates these issues by bridging the gaps.

Wedding fashion is usually all about that bride, but what happens in a coupling where there is no bridezilla. Gay men deserve to get the complete bridal experience too, so fortunately, there are wedding boutiques for gay men that put out all the stops!

We've seen the bacon bra, the beef jerky brief, and now food that meets fashion is going mainstream with a customizable, sizzling slip on from a popular shoe company. Keep on reading to find out where and how you can get your feet into these meaty shoes!

If you don't have a GPS or a GPS mobile phone, you're definitely behind the times, especially since they now do more than just tell you where to go, at least since businesses have managed to create entertaining GPS-based games.

We all have someone in our lives who seems to lack a backbone, so what better gift to give them than a fashion item with a little bit of extra spine?

Some women just don't want to go anywhere without their heels, and with this in mind, one brand of shoes has taken heels to a place they've never been before with heels designed for fitness.

For the defiantly organized going off to school or to the office, wall planning calendars are a great way to keep track of events, meetings and other important dates. But for those who just don't think that's enough, there is a company that creates custom calendars.

We've seen Minibar, a self-serve drinking establishment that gives patrons access to their own mini bar, so they never have to worry about waiting around for a server to bring them their next drink. But that business model came with one fatal flaw; in order to get their next drink, bar patrons needed to get up in move. So now there's a new style of drinking establishment more in tune with the lazy drinker.

Last week's swim suit controversy was about sport and not fashion, but when the world record holder for swimming is making a stink about something that another competitor is wearing, it's definitely worthwhile commenting about.

A contestant for the James Dyson Award, The Contortionist folding bike is an innovative addition to the road and could quickly become one of the most functional, popular folding bikes out there.

Unless you're a serious fitness fanatic, you probably don't think of bicycle or sport helmets as exactly fashionable. It's for this reason that so many people choose to go without, risking head injury. Yakkay offers a unique brand of helmets that don't look like what you'd expect!

Music distribution has been revolutionized as various companies have tried to come up with viable options that encourage people to get their hands on music and downloads legally, in turn cutting down on piracy. Bet you didn't know that the same issue is prevalent in the world of blue prints, and now one innovative company is modeling their business after the way music distribution has changed.

Tired of lugging around a metal detector stuck on a long pole?  If so, try out this zippy little toy: The Metal Detecting Dune Buggy!

I recently introduced you to YouStar, which allows people of all ages star in their favorite action films or romantic comedies, so that they can pretend to be Jennifer Anniston's leading man (or lady). But did you know that before this company announced the release of their brand of product, another one, Kideo, already captured the market?

Retro fashions might be in style, but the gamer's Tetris bracelet isn't necessary what most people have in mind when they hear vintage fashion.

Those who turn to decaffeinated coffee just can't rely on someone's word that it's what they're getting, and let's be honest here; it was policy when I worked in my first job as a teenager in a coffee fop that if the decaf was out, you top it off with regular. In order to fight off misleading teenagers like I was, Discover Testing has created a product that allows people to test the caffeine content of their beverages.

Tattoos take many shapes and forms, but a neat tattoo was recently posted on Flickr, following an embroidery pattern in tribute to an important family member, and it certainly works like a piece of embroidered art!

If you pass out from anaphylactic shock in a foreign country, the last thing you need is a group of people who speak a different language from you own standing around going "I wonder what the heck is wrong with him/her" when they can't figure out what is written on your Medic Alert Bracelet. Allergy Translation is a new company that must just change the life of travelers.

Generally when you talk about people wearing their food, it's snidely after a meal that results in remnants being visible that were not appropriately devoured. However, with the delicious food fashion designs by Joy Campia, it's food that's good enough to wear, in a good way.

Escape is a company with the tagline "the freedom to sleep around" but it's not what you think; the services they offer are completely above board! This New Zealand Company does however offer sleeping on the go, and they do it in a unique way.