According to it’s product website, Vauni Globe is the world’s only globe-shaped ethanol fireplace. I think it looks like everybody’s favorite arcade creature; Pacman. It’s a freestanding, chimney-free and very flexible fireplace that can be turned 360 degrees. With the most advanced ethanol burner, and integrated regulation of heat and flame size, safety is a priority.

With everyone going green, ethanol is considered as an alternative fuel. The globe is made of concrete in a casting process, and is simple to use; just fill it with fuel and light it up with the lighter provided. The amount of heat and flame size can be regulated with a built-in control, and for safety the fire can be put off in a simple turn button. Price $6,101

Vauni (productdose)

If you  live in a house with a lawn, you know how costly lawn care can be. To cut costs: trim your lawn after work instead of employing someone else, but you still need the equipment. That’s why you should thank designer Gustav Landberg, who designed this three in-one Lawn gizmo: It will mow, collect the leaves and also during winter act as a snow blower.(I didn’t know you can blow on snow) It will also save you space since its doing three different Jobs that would have required the presence of a trio. Not sure if it’s just a concept, or has already gone into production. [yankodesign]

The Ozark Trail 33 Piece Camping Set Comes equipped with almost everything you might need for a camping trip, and for $100 it’s pocket friendly. It includes a 13’ x 10’ dome tent, two 2.5lb sleeping bags, a collapsible 12-can cooler, two (collapsible) quad chairs, four drinks holders, two hanging cup holders, a camping light and a 20 piece picnic set with a carrying case. Did I mention that all this packs into an included EZ pack conveniently, wheeled carry bag that is also expandable. Would make an ideal gift for a ‘camping dad’ this Fathers Day. 

uncrate

If you have a problem watering your plants, you know……too much or not enough H20. Get the I.V. self feeding plant pot from the Vitamin store. It features a medical drip that feeds the plant sufficiently while minimizing water loss via evaporation.  Soon with all the eco-friendly hype, plants will have vaccinations, insulin injections, and other medical procedures. 

Productdose

Snow tubes were always my downhill vessel of choice as a kid, but maybe that’s because I never got to know the coolness of products like the Avaluge Sled. Says szlea: “Popular Science in its January 2007 issue noted that this sled ‘zooms down hills at up to 60 mph. Only the runners’ stainless-steel inlays touch the ground, reducing friction and increasing speed.’” Moving that crazy-fast, the Avaluge somewhat recalls Clark Griswold’s makeshift sled National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - only it’s about a million times slicker.

We may breathe in so much smoggy air day after day, but Angelenos tend to bring health-consciousness to a whole new level. Going beyond wheatgrass, power cleanses, and every other stereotypically LaLaLand-ish miracle cure, several L.A.-based ThisNexters have shared their secrets for staying well in these air-polluted but awe-inspiring environs. On her To Live in L.A. list, for instance, Dani Katz recommends a powdered supplement called Pure Synergy. The product has become Dani’s “favorite green powder, because it includes Reishi mushroom and other Chinese herbs that I would otherwise be taking (and paying for) separately,” she says.

Dani’s fondness for all things green extends to her taste in yoga mats, with the “L.A. native and metaphysical enthusiast” selecting the Green Yoga Eco-Yoga Mat for its renewable, eco-positive hemp fibers. And green’s also the magic color in Dani’s beloved kale with spicy peanut sauce from M Cafe de Chaya, the healthy-chic Melrose hotspot where our recent celeb sightings have included Sarah Silverman and Marie Antoinette star Jason Schwartzman. “I love everything at this macrobiotic café, but the kale is especially delicious,” says Dani.

...continued: To Live And Thrive In L.A.

Now that much of the country has seen some sizable snowfall, it could be the right time to take off on a mid-winter ski excursion. If you’re in the market for new skis, Never Summer suggests staying away from unknown brands. “[A]ny compromise on the quality front will not be kind to you and takes you downhill directly,” the blogger warns. “Buying from reputed brands, you are sure of certain stated things like turn radius, high end toe plates, adjustable binding lengths, uncompromised biding surface in twin decks etc.”

The perfect place to start your ski-shopping, ThisNext spotlights some of the products most likely to show you a good time on the slopes this season. K2 Made’n AK skis, for instance, are “the Cadillac of powder skis,” according to Doug Krause. Tara Bell also goes for K2, naming their Phat Luv model “the best all mountain ski.” Susan Eckert dubs the K2 Women’s T: Nine Lotta Luv Ski “perfect for the female skier who wants to ride the entire mountain,” while Seth Morrison spreads the love for his very own K2 Skis Seth Model: “Love these since I have total input on them. Right down to the graphics,” he proudly shares. “If I could draw, they would probably use my graphics too.” But ezekielf goes for the K2 Public Enemy Alpine Ski, featuring ABS sidewalls and 2.5mm wide-edges. “It is a great all mountain ski with enough width for powder, but enough sidecut and torsional stiffness for carving,” ezekielf declares. “In extremely icy conditions I find myself wishing I had more sidecut, but I’m not a huge fan of skiing on ice anyway.”

...continued: Hit The Slopes

When braving the elements on a blustery day, you need to bundle up in the best winter apparel around. To keep the cold out while you ski, snowboard, or sled, turn to the geniuses at Patagonia, a company that’s earned the trust of many ThisNext outdoor adventurists. Especially appealing the eco-conscious, Patagonia helps protect the planet by using Earth-friendly materials in their attire and giving back to environmental organizations. In fact, says Alison Gannett, the company “donates 1% of sales to 350 grassroot non-profits, for a total of about 2.5 million a year!”

A skier, Alison dons Patagonia’s Micro Puff Jacket on the slopes and beyond. “I use this synthetic insulation jacket for everything - skiing, climbing, shopping, rain coat, warm insulation in super cold climates - and it packs into my hand and feels like you are wearing air,” she says. John Johnston is also mad for Mirco Puff, preferring the Pullover style of this soft and superlight attire. “It’s my first down jacket and I can’t believe I waited so long,” says John.

...continued: Put On Your Patagonia

As the bike enthusiasts over at DirtWorld.com point out, there’s no need for your mountain bike to go into hibernation this winter. To stay warm and dry while you’re pedaling in the chilly winter weather, the site suggests bringing along a lightweight, waterproof jacket (stored in a water-resistant pack) for when you need to change layers. And, DirtWorld.com adds, “if you think the temp may really drop on the way down, think about tossing in some ski gloves and maybe even some toe warmers in that pack. Remember, if you lose feeling in your hands, you’re going to lose the ability to maintain control of your bike.”

When it comes to finding your ideal mountain bike in the first place, take a spin around ThisNext to discover what our cycling shopcasters are recommending. Santa Cruz Bicycles appear to be a fave, with theninja007, Gordon, blondie, gearnoise, and Julie Kipfer all showing their love for the Santa Cruz Blur XC mountain bike. While blondie deems the Blur XC “perfect for the long climbs and fast rolling down hills” and gearnoise notes that it’s a “real evolution in bike design,” Julie proclaims that “I love my bike because it fits me - it’s light and fast. The suspension allows me to climb anything with ease. The descents are faster because I roll over every obstacle.” Another Santa Cruz devotee, John Johnston is all about the Santa Cruz Nomad Mountain Bike, a new find that’s “black and sleek with more travel than I know what to do with, but I’ll think of something.”

...continued: Mid-winter mountain biking

Just a few hours ago I was reveling in the supreme pleasure of working from a café right off the Venice Beach boardwalk, where the view included lots of graffitied palm trees, some smoggy mountains, a slightly-past-middle-age and very brave woman wearing just Daisy Dukes and a bikini top, and so many happy people on bikes. The bikes-galore thing really made me wish I had a ten-speed of my own, but I haven’t owned that kind of wheels since I scored an ‘84 Corolla around the age of 16. If I were to invest, here are some of the ThisNext-approved road bikes I’d have to consider first:

1. Trek 2100 Road Bike

Teigeman swears that this “fast, sleek, and sexy” road bike “changed my life” and transformed him into a “confirmed roadie that rides dirt once in a while.” As “one of the most well-engineered pieces of gear a person can own,” the Trek 2100 “is all about comfort, pro-level quality, and just plain fun. With a Trek 2100, you’ll have a pimpin’ ride that won’t break the bank, and you’ll never feel outclassed - even 10 years down the road.”

...continued: Hit the road

I haven’t been sledding in about a thousand years. And even if I’d wanted to send myself soaring down some snow-covered hill while at home in New England last month, I would’ve been tragically out of luck - my little section of Massachusetts has accumulated a total of about a half-inch of snow all season long.

But if it does ever snow again, those in colder climates should consider upgrading from that drugstore-scored plastic sled to the Flexible Flyer Winter Heat Sled recommended by Jean. Equipped with braking steering handles, the sled helps you warm up while shooting down the hilly terrain at breakneck speed.

Plus, it just looks cooler, which must have something to do with that “ninja stealth” that Jean mentions in her shopcast.

This morning, while stepping onto one of my gym’s elliptical machines and finding the handles sweat-soaked from their previous user, I realized just how badly I need to invest in some MSR Personal Face Packtowels (so as to keep my gym towel from ever coming into contact with my face - that’s just too gross). Lightweight and highly absorbent, the towels are also ideal for camping and backpacking, says gearnoise. The mountain biker likes to keep his packtowel attached to his CamelBak pack, so that “I always have a towel handy to wipe my face or more importantly sunscreen out of my eyes.”

And for those of us gym-going types, the product ensures that you’ll never have to get your sweat mixed up with that of some Rude Gus who doesn’t grasp the concept of gym hygiene. I mean, really - ewww.

Don’t leave your darling pooch off your shopping list! Ideal for pets of hikers, backpackers, and other outdoorsy types, the Ruff Wear Palisades II Dog Pack features a three-strap system to disperse the load evenly so as not to trouble your doggie’s back. The pack also comes complete with two collapsible water bladders, a grab handle on the back, and a reflective trim to keep your puppy visible in the dark.

Of course, this one’s a gift that very much gives back to the giver, as evidenced by ThisNexter Kristine’s shopcast: “Poor fortune for my dogs I live by the rule ‘There’s no such thing as a free ride,’” she says. “These backpacks work very well for carrying groceries.”

BTW, has anyone ever actually named his/her dog Fido in all of world history? I’m guessing not.

Bath salts and balms and beauty serums aren’t the only rose-kissed gifts you can give this season. For the more rugged rose-lover, there’s the Ted Baker Rose Print Tent from Blacks. Sure to be the most lovely tent at your campsite, the two-berth dome features a porch for gear storage and breathable polyester inner with storage pockets - plus it’s got SPF 30 protection. ThisNexter mouseking finds the tent so pretty that “I think I’ll set one up in my living room for a few days!” And it would be so very perfect to take to Coachella next year…