Solar Weather Designy App

If you're like me and live in a city with four distinct seasons that's frequently subjected to Mother Nature's PMS moodiness, then checking the weather is a daily obsession. We check it before walking out the door, before making plans, to see if it's too cold to be looking cute, and if there's some good weather to look forward to in the coming weekend. Not that having two days off isn't good enough, but I think we can agree that two days off and warm, sunny weather is just that much better. A., who's from California, said he never even thought about the weather before moving to New York! "So what on Earth did you talk about with strangers?" I asked.

Solar is a top weather forecast app that uses colors to tell you both temperature and weather conditions. Apart from how pretty the colorscapes look, I like how the screen will flash and vibrate if a thunderstorm is underway and how clean and simple the interface is. Scroll up to see the forecast change throughout the day, pull down for a quick view of the next three days, and swipe or tap the screen to see weather in other cities.

So now not only can I talk about the weather, but how I check it, too, therefore doubling the arsenal in my bag of awkward break-the-ice conversation starters.

The Dry As Toast 2011 Gift Guide

The Dry As Toast 2011 Gift Guide is here! I've searched and selected some lovely picks to give this holiday season (even A. helped out on the guy front). Below you'll find stocking stuffers, major splurges, and everything in to surprise loved ones with fun and unexpected goodies. So what if in the process I secretly started craving a few things for myself? Happy shopping!

{For the home}

1. CB2 4-Some Bud Vase, $9.95; CB2 Beaker Glass Tube Wall Vase, $2.95; 2. Anthropologie Dotty Match Pot Holders, $12 each; 3. CB2 Oliver Appetizer Plates, $2.95 each; 4. The Treats Truck Baking Book: Cookies, Brownies, and Goodies Galore!, $21.99; 5. They Draw & Cook, $19.95; 6. The Wanderlust Bottle Carrier with 6 Milk Bottles, $30; 7. Villareal Ceramic Black Spruce Cup with Stir Stick, $35; 8. West Elm Slate + Wood Board, $24 for small board; 9. Linda & Harriett 2012 Watercolor Calendar, $42.

{For the office}

1. Laurel Denise 2012 Planner, $35; 2. The Wanderlust Animal Paper Clips, $5.25; 3. Your Nest Inspired Business Card and Credit Card Holder, $55; 4. Linda & Harriett Letterpress Calendar 2012, $30; 5. KarolinFelix Dream Desk Organizer/ Desktop Zen Garden, $149; 6. BuckyCubes, from $24.95.

{For her}

1. Fellow Fellow Butterfly Garland, $40; 2. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns), $25; 3. Banana Republic Cozy Cable Scarf, $59.50; 4. Catbird Alphabet Ring, $88; 5. Khara Ledonne Handpainted Locket, $38; 6. WESC Headphones, $77; 7. Pretty Elizabeth Arden Eau de Parfum Spray, $65 for 3.3 fl. oz.; 8. Freena Bow Tie Necklace, $11; 9. Fresh Brown Sugar Affair Set, $50.

{For him}

1. Maker's Mark 46, approx. $40; 2. Mighty Wallet, $15; 3. iPhone 4S, from $199; 4. Horne Paul Smith's Statement Bar Set Stelton, $169; 5. Le 3me Homme de Caron Eau de Toilette Spray, $31 for 4.2 fl. oz.; 6. Urban Outfitters Moustache Bandages, $7; 7. Keurig Platinum Brewing System, $179.95; 8. Terrain Ombre Stripes Scarf, $218.

{For the kids}

1. Ideal Bookshelf 5, TRE, $50; 2. LeapFrog My Pal Scout & Violet, $24.99 each; 3. Donkey Products Airplane Spoon, $20; 4. Anthropologie Oh To Dream Euro Shams, $44.95; 5. Blooming Bath Baby Bath, $40; 6. Tegu The Pocket Pouch, $32; 7. Tokyo Bay DJ Robot Alarm Clock, $48.

{For the writer/artist}

1. Write With Moxie 5-Piece Eco-Friendly Recycled Paper Color Pencil Set, $6.50; 2. Wacom Intuos4 Small Pen Tablet, $229; 3. Papernomad Laptop Sleeve, $58; 4. Apple MacBook Pro, from $1199; 5. Prismacolor 79 Piece Mixed Media Set, $67.46; 6. Smock Sorbet Jotter Notepad, $6 for two; 7. Wonderful Life Milk Carton Pencil Pouch, $14.25; 8. Fig. 2 Design Studio Sorbet Friendly! Hello Note Set, $16.

{For the traveler}

1. Saratops City Recycled Map Notebook, $8; 2. West Elm Canvas Electronic Cases, from $9; 3. Harlex Double-Sided Hand-Stitched Leather Luggage Tag, $45; 4. Amazon Kindle Fire, $199; 5. Moleskine Passions Travel Journal, $19.95; 6. Banana Republic Weekender Bag, $198; 7. Ben Minkhoff Waxwear & Leather Weekender Bag, $595; 8. Ruche Triomphe De Paris Mini Postcard Set, $25.99; 9. Anthropologie Paris Paper Tape, $18.

Images: all from linked sources

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A Phone with a Twist

I've yet to even join the fancy-smart-phone-with-a-QWERTY-keyboard bandwagon, but when my friend sent me a link to this phone I immediately thought, "Ooh!" The square Nokia 7705 Twist features a swivel design that reveals a full keyboard underneath the screen. The phone also boasts an HTML browser, a 3-megapixel camera and music player, threaded text messaging and lets you post videos and pictures straight to your blog.

But as much as my friends try to sell me on handhelds, like the BlackBerry ("Yours is so ancient!" "You can blog anytime, anywhere!" "You can risk your life and check your mail while you cross the street!"), I think I'm perfectly fine as long as the phone does its basic functions: receive calls and texts. Though I must admit, blogging from the park does sound mighty tempting...but not enough to shell out major bucks for it!

Image: reviews.cnet.com