Today's Kool Idea: As Seen on TV Tool Band-It

The Daily Kool family is very proud of our home. While it may not seem like much to some people, we have spent countless hours decorating every nook and cranny to create a warm, livable environment. We love it and it's all ours...well, ours and the bank's, anyway. The only problem with home ownership is that there is always something that needs to be fixed, refurbished or just maintained. We learned quickly to expect the unexpected and by necessity, we've become quite savvy and adept at many do-it-yourself home repair projects.

We came across an advertisement for the As Seen on TV Tool Band-It the other day...this is definitely another one of those "why oh why didn't we think of this first" products. The Billy Mays endorsed Tool Band-It is a lightweight, flexible armband with enough magnetic power to keep up to 25lbs worth of tools and other work pieces practically right at your fingertips. This is a great idea for all those minor household projects which typically require an extra person just to manage the tools. Now, we no longer have to say those magical words, "Can you hand me that, honey?" We actually laughed when the infomercial showed a woman holding nails in her mouth for easier access...we do that all the time. We particularly like that it can hook onto a regular pants belt as an alternative to the arm. The Tool Band-It really seems like one of those rare As Seen on TV products that actually does exactly what it says.

We love the versatility of possible uses for the Tool Band-It. From gardening to auto maintenance, crafting to household repair, we can envision many, many ways that the Tool Band-It will keep us more organized and productive. We've actually come across two different offers for the Tool Band-It. The buy one and get a second one offer can be found on the official website and also includes 10 Hercules Hooks...an favorite of ours, and a previously featured "kool" idea (click here to read). The As Seen on TV website offer includes one armband plus a free bonus headlamp for better visibility in darker areas. Both offers are the same price (which is actually pretty reasonable at around $20), so it just comes down to your preference. We will be taking advantage of the buy one get one free Tool Band-It offer...this way, we can keep one for our home and give one to Dad for Father's Day.

The Tool Band-It has given us another reason to justify our addiction to As Seen on TV products. A simple, effective gizmo that will likely become a staple in The Daily Kool household...a handy helper, particularly in more confined areas such as the attic or under the sink. Plus, the Tool Band-It definitely makes a great gift idea. We can't wait to see Dad's reaction on Father's Day...perhaps it will inspire him to move forward on the countless projects our mother needs done around the house. Hey, you never know!

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Today's Kool Idea: Black & Decker Pivot Plus Cordless Screwdriver for Father's Day

When we were growing up, our mother was the primary handyman...uh, handyperson of the house. Our father could assemble a computer from parts alone in an instant, but changing a lightbulb would cause him to throw up his hands in horror...yeah, it didn't make much sense to us either. The one tool he held with complete confidence though, was a screwdriver.

We never realized how often we would have to use a screwdriver until we bought our own house. Thank goodness we have our Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver. It is, without a doubt, the most utilized tool in our home...and it's so amazing, we really believe that no Dad (or Mom, for that matter) should be without one on Father's Day. This tool is perfect for those everyday household maintenance jobs, from changing toy batteries to assembling furniture. Black & Decker really did a terrific job with this one!

The Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver has many, many features that (in our opinion) make it the best out there for the money. The dual speed range offers a choice between high speed drilling and low speed driving. The clutch comes with a remarkable 23 different positions to prevent stripping of screws (a common problem in The Daily Kool household), and the forward/reverse rocker makes it easy to back screws out of any surface. We absolutely love the locking, three position tilt option for tight or awkward spots and the small LED light for (albeit slightly) improved visibility. Our Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver included a 5ft. measuring tape...it's not a very necessary feature and one that doesn't seem available anymore. It's not pictured on the company's website or on Amazon, but the Target picture includes it (which is why we link to them)...however, keep in mind that if you order the Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver, it may not come with the measuring tape.

We have very few complaints about the Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver, but they are worth noting. The location of the connection of the charger plug is right in the pivot point and it doesn't allow for use while charging. Therefore, there have been times when we've had to stop in the middle of a project to recharge our cordless screwdriver. Definitely inconvenient, especially since it takes a long time to charge completely. To save the 6V battery, we try to only recharge it when the power is clearly diminishing and we give it a good six hours or so to complete. Now, we always make sure to plan ahead and charge it fully whenever we have more than a 3 hour project to help circumvent this problem.

The Black & Decker Pivot Plus cordless screwdriver is a terrific gift idea for Father's Day. Comfortable to hold and oh so handy, it is an absolute must-have for any household. You really can't beat the value, and it's one powerful tool that even our father can use. When we bought it for Dad a couple of years ago, Mom thanked us as well! Power and convenience at a great price...definitely a "kool" idea.

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Today's Kool Idea: Hercules Hook Wall Hooks

Our children, like most others, are extremely proud when they create beautiful pieces of art. If you have been reading our blog, you are probably aware of our parental obsession with technology-free activities that foster socialization and creative expression. Our kids love them all...sand art, mosaics, string along, latch hook projects, etc. Of course, our children demand that their creations be displayed. Rightfully so, of course, but there's only one problem...where on earth are we going to find room for all of them?

Shelves...we need more shelves (yes, and probably a bigger home). We are constantly taking out the hammer and nails to install shelves and hang artwork in various rooms...at least we were until a friend told us we had to check out the Hercules Hook wall hooks. So, we picked them up at our local Bed Bath and Beyond (gotta love the 20% coupon) and brought them home.

There are a lot of things that we really like about the Hercules Hooks. They can hold a lot of weight (up to 150 lbs), and were relatively easy to use, once we got the hang (yep, pun intended) of it. Installing the Hercules Hooks took a little more muscle than we expected, but once we got them in, they really worked like a charm. We admittedly went a little hanging happy, but these hooks are a lot of fun to use....and they really hold everything beautifully.

This is a much sturdier product than we expected. We really love how small the holes in our wall are. Of course, we must admit that the heavier the item, the larger the hole gets, but it's still much smaller than most nails...just a little touch up paint makes them completely invisible...no spackle necessary! Our biggest problem? Hercules Hooks are completely useless wherever there are studs in the wall. They are so long, there is no way to maneuver them around or in front of the studs. Unfortunately, the studs tend to be placed in the most centered areas on the walls, so we often have to go back to traditional picture hooks in certain spots.

Overall, Hercules Hook wall hooks are really great to have around the house. More convenient than picture hooks for framed art? Perhaps not, but again, only because of the wall studs. They are absolutely worth using for shelving installation or for heavier pieces that require an anchor and screw. Now we have plenty of places to store our kids' masterpieces and no excuse to shop around for a bigger house...darn it!

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