The catch here is that without some sort of heat, it can take a little while for your dishes to fully dry. With the Lawn Countertop Drying Rack (Perpetual Kid, $27.49), it’s not an issue. I used to just set my clean dishes on a dish towel on the counter – so low-tech. Not only does this drying rack look a whole lot more awesome than my lowly dish towel, but it’s actually a lot more efficient. You can dry anything from cups and bowls to utensils and kitchen accessories without worrying about them falling over. The secret is in the flexible grass blades that secure your dishes in place while still allowing air to penetrate. Any extra water drips onto the tray below, which is easily removed for cleaning.

If you have pets, you might want to tread lightly here – this grass does look a lot like the real thing.

4 out of 5 stars.

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What I need, what I’m always looking for, is a product to make cooking less intimidating. The Sink Drainer Cutting Board (Uncommon Goods, $32.00) marries an organic bamboo cutting board with a silicone strainer and I can instantly breathe easier. I don’t have to worry about dropping all the vegetables I just chopped into the sink when I transfer them from the cutting board to the strainer because it’s built right in. The whole thing fits over your sink so you can slide your vegetables or meat directly into the strainer as you go. Usually I end up doing this in batches because my cutting board is too small to sustain an entire meal’s raw materials. Because this cutting board is meant to be used over the sink, it’s quite large and could be a bit tricky to store – something tells me it won’t be spending that much time tucked away though.

It’s probably a good idea to get a jump start on your Father’s Day shopping, so if Dad isn’t into cooking you can still find a bunch of other great ideas at Uncommon Goods.

5 out of 5 stars.

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If there’s any doubt in your mind about your roommate’s temperament, the Mood Mug (Generate Design, $25.00) will clear it up. There are four possible designs available, each depicting a different mood so everyone you encounter will know exactly how you’re feeling without any words exchanged. It doesn’t matter if you’re happy, moody, sleepy, or even hungover – your mug will say it all. Besides the benefit of less morning chatter, these mugs save space by forgoing handles in favor of double wall insulation. Cool to the touch, your coffee/tea stays hotter longer with no pesky handle to slow you down!

Just remember: Sip slowly, lest you burn your entire mouth.

4 out of 5 stars.

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Until I can master the fine art of walking without tripping over my own two feet, the Lappers Non-Slip Dining Trays (Vat19, $15.99) will have to help me out. What looks like a regular serving tray actually features two removable non-skid silicone mats to keep your plate and drink from sliding around. Because I frequently don’t pay attention to where I’m going, this tray would be instrumental in getting my food from Point A to Point B. The plate and drink areas of the tray are also recessed to provide even more dishware support – a place for everything and everything in its place.

“Justice is balance.”

5 out of 5 stars.

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With a love for cheese as great as mine, a capable grater is a must. The Grip Grater Multi-Position Cheese Grater (Amazon, $24.99) really ups the ante because it offers three possible positions. Three! That’s two more than most graters! When not in use, the grater folds flat for easy storage – great for small kitchens or big kitchens overrun with a plethora of cooking gadgets. Grating can be achieved in one of two ways: arms together offers the traditional hand-held option while arms out allows you to grate over a bowl or dish. Non-slip grips on both the arms and under hinges prevent the grater from sliding around in either position, so it’s really a matter of personal preference. For me, it’s gotta be arms out because you can shred block after block of cheese without feeling the burn. But that’s just me.

You don’t like cheese? As Liz Lemon would say, “That’s a dealbreaker.”

5 out of 5 stars.

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Because you can’t take a water fountain with you, the Foldable Water Bottle Set (Things You Never Knew Existed, $9.98) is a great alternative. Lots of people are now carrying around reusable water bottles instead of buying disposable ones and that’s great for the environment. However, they’re usually pretty bulky, so you might decide to leave your fancy water bottle at home when it doesn’t jive with your routine. You won’t have that problem with these water bottles because they flatten and fold up when not in use. A water bottle you can stuff in your pocket – crazy, no? When you’re thirsty, you can unfold the bottle, fill it up (for free!), and it’ll stand upright.

It’s pretty bad when beer and water are the same price.

3 out of 5 stars.

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For those who want to have their cake and eat it too, there’s the Portable Handheld Scanner (Hammacher Schlemmer, $99.95) – the cake in this scenario being the tangible photo and eating it being the digital copy. It doesn’t just stop at photos though; you can scan anything! Photos, magazines, documents…pretty much anything you can think of. Ok, well you are confined to the limits of the microSD card, but this scanner supports memory cards up to 32 gigabytes in capacity and you can get 180 scans per charge. Each scan is saved onto the memory card as a JPEG file, as either high or normal resolution, and the scanner is both PC and Mac compatible.

Not for retinas.

4 out of 5 stars.

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If your technological aspirations far outweigh your monetary value, sometimes you have to compromise. The USB Bladeless Cooling Fan (SkyMall, $19.99) utilizes the same awesome science as those big bladeless fans except it’s a fraction of the price. Oh, and also smaller. But other than that, the two are pretty much the same. Bladelessness still means ultra-quiet and easy to clean, not to mention incredibly safe for youngsters and klutzes alike. As an added bonus, this fan consumes half the energy of a conventional fan so you’re once again single-handedly saving the planet.

It’s almost like you’re part of the Avengers. Almost.

4 out of 5 stars.

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The Plug Out Plug Organizers (Perpetual Kid, $7.49) are here to rescue your many cords from obscurity! The silicone plug organizer attaches to the wall via stain-free adhesive and serve to keep your plugs handy even when they’re not in use. Each set comes with two plug organizers so it’s up to you to choose where your problem plug areas are. Even if you don’t suffer from technological dependence (liar), you can still use these organizers to keep track of the electronics you unplug when they’re not in use to save money/energy.

I’m considering fully converting to Apple products, if only for the simplicity of one cord to charge them all.

4 out of 5 stars.

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If you’re gonna make your burgers from scratch, then you might as well go all out. Go ahead, get the grass-fed beef, add only the freshest spices, and use the Mini Deluxe BBQ Burger Set (Convenient Gadgets & Gifts, $19.95). With this set, you get everything you need (other than the burger itself) to prep and cook your super tasty sliders. First, use the triple hamburger press to release pockets of air and ensure uniform grilling. Then place the flattened patties into the nonstick wire basket and you’re ready for maximum grillage without any burger casualties. While your burgers are cooking, you can trim the hamburger buns to regulation slider size with the bun cutter. All that’s missing is a surly teenage to overcharge you!

Watch out for the Hamburglar!

4 out of 5 stars.

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