There are some things that scream NERD that we wouldn’t normally admit to liking, but are still kind of into. Tobey Maguire, Star Trek and Segways come to mind.

These rubber wristbands may look like an armful of those LIVESTRONG rubber bands, but they’re actually super-usable USB Flash Drives in disguise. You all know you use them. But now you can wear them, too.

Order them for your whole company and you can pick a color and have them personalized with a lasered-on, four color logo. But be careful, because it’s harder to disquise a giant squad of geeks than just one.

http://www.ipromo.com/?fuseaction=product.&productsid=106

ELF, or Eyes Lips Face, is a cosmetics brand that is either moving on to do bigger and better things or is completely closing down. And with both of those things comes closeout- super cheap prices. We’re thinking, based on it’s appearances in InStyle and on Oprah, that things aren’t over yet.

Currently ELF has every lipstick, powder, liner, brush, and tool on their website for only $1.00. You can get enough makeup for the entire next season of America’s Next Top Model for less than the cost of a sandwich. We picked up an entire set of brushes, 6 lip glosses, bronzer, false eyelashes, an eyelash curler and eye makeup remover for nothing.

And you didn’t hear it from us, but the code CAROLINA gets you an additional 50% off. Which is, well, just ridiculous.

www.eyeslipsface.com

 

It’s happened to every girl. The first date was going fine until your purse dropped to the floor and a huge pile of tampons flew across the pizzeria. As the potential boyfriend bends down to help gather various belongings, you both come face-to-face with your stupid Playtex. But not anymore!

The Girly Tube discreetly conceals any tampons, makeup, or diet pills you may have swimming around in your purse, so innocent boyfriends (and snoopy strangers) don’t catch an eyeful of embarrassment. It can also be used for actual cigars or cigarettes, a pen, or whatever else you may have that’s skinny and hide-able. We’re convinced Osama Bin Laden is hiding in one in a purse somewhere.

www.tres-femme.com

Monsoon season is about as predictable as the latest Perez Hilton blog postings.

This weekend marked the average date that monsoon season starts here in our desert. While we haven’t seen too many sprinkles yet, we all know what’s coming. Rain with a vengeance. Ready to repay us for the months of mild and agreeable weather we’ve enjoyed this year.

And while we all have a mini, lame-looking travel umbrella stashed somewhere in our cars for these sudden downpours, it usually unfolds to a shallow paper-plate shaped disaster which blows inside out and leaves us with puffy, nasty hair for the remainder of the day.

Juicy Couture has created the ultimate in stylish monsoon protection. The birdcage umbrella is a chic, full beautiful superdome of plastic which keeps all rain off of your head and shoulders so well, you might as well be inside. Your new shoes, however, are on their own.

www.nordstrom.com

Wait a minute- last time we checked, Mandy Moore was a 3rd string pop princess with nothing but an album named “Candy� and a couple of laughable movies under her belt. This new CD can’t be good… can it?

“Wild Hope,� is a breezy, indie, balanced album we actually like. Mando even had a hand in writing some of the songs, which might actually make her an actual artist- a feat none of us saw coming.

Nevertheless, it’s sure to gain it’s rightful space on the closing segments of Grey’s Anatomy and on alternative radio stations across the country. Which must be a nice change from when her lifestyle was centered around dating Wilmer Valderrama.

www.amazon.com

Forget the lettuce in your BLT’s. Now add a little Vodka. No, we’re not joking.

Those of you who live in Las Vegas or frequent the area can venture off the strip and ease those hangovers once in a while with the Bacon Bloody, an interesting concoction and grease-filled pick-me-up.

This exciting twist on a weekend classic can be found at Double Down Saloon on 4640 Paradise Road, and includes a shot or two of vodka that’s been steeped in swine, the classic tomato juice and pepper, and a slice or two of the crunchy stuff for garnish.

Just hold the eggs, please.

www.doubledownsaloon.com photo: BizBash

 

“Bring Your Own Blowdryer�, is a cool new night out for you and your girlfriends, and will breathe new life into you and your dreaded, limp hair. Held at Dolce Salon and Spa, expert stylists teach you and your friends how to reproduce your perfect, bouncy salon hair at home. Through one-on-one individual consultations, a step-by-step lesson and product and styling tool recommendations, you will finally be able to create that perfect blowout!

BYOB is the first Friday of every month at Dolce Salon & Spa from 6:15–8:30 pm. Only $40 will get you snacks, beverages, $20 retail credit to use on instructor-recommended products, and all the beauty secrets you could ask for! Also check out their recent expansions, Dolce Barber and Spa for men, and Neo’s Med Spa.

www.dolceco.com

Every Fourth of July is the same for the man in the family- worrying about your 11-year old son with his $150 worth of roman candles, dealing with an army of your wife’s friends and their whining kids, and endless hours at the barbeque flipping burgers and burning wieners.

In the future, you’ll be able to get a little Independence Day glory yourself. Now you can design a personalized brand- get the good ol’ USA design, brand your juicy steak with the mascot of your alma-mater, or create a personalized design with your initials.

So now you’ll finally be able to take credit for the meat you spend all day grilling for everybody else.

www.texasirons.com

All of us, especially those of us who happen to live in the Desert and Coastal Regions, need a good pair of flip flops or two. We’ve seen our many styles of thongs and comfy shoes come and go with each year. We tired of Reefs bulkier styles, Rocket Dogs had their day but we all realized (some later than others) that four-inch tall flip-flops weren’t really too practical and J.Crew flip flops were great until it rained and they became crazy slippery deathmachines.

A few years ago came Havaianas. Simple, clean, fun colors. Almost too easy. But just when we start looking for something a little more feminine, a little updated, they slap it right on us. The Havaianas Slim.

These wonderful versions of the slightly more-masculine original come with a slimmer, chicer strap and footbed, and are available in all the basic shades. They look better with summery dresses and let the world know that you (and Havaianas) are bringing your flip-flop A-game.

 

A throwback to the days of Easy-Bake, this teeny little cooker has everything you need to whip up a delicious and adorable dwarf breakfast in a cute little machine and make all your friends jealous.

The Elite Cuisine Multi-Function 3-in-1 Breakfast Center (say that in your best infomercial voice) includes a mini oven for a half of a pop tart, a hot plate for your single egg and sausage link, and a tiny coffee maker for your thimbleful of Starbucks. And at only 9.25 X 8 X 15�, it will keep your portions small and your kitchen counters clear.

But you won’t need odd-sized light bulbs, plastic tongs and powdered cake mixes for it to work.

www.target.com