Summer

High-tech cooler pulls in millions of dollars on Kickstarter

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Say hello to the 21st century cooler

Though they’re a necessary summertime item, most coolers are bulky and a nuisance to lug around on a hot day. How much better would it be if your cooler did more than just hold drinks? Inventor Ryan Grepper from Portland, Oregon plans to shed some light on that idea. He designed a new drink-carrying vessel called the “Coolest Cooler,” which took off on Kickstarter, reeling in more than $5 million from more than 21,000 backers.

Coolest_Cooler

The Coolest Cooler is anything but ordinary. It includes a USB charger, an LED light, wireless speakers, and much more.

So what exactly is so special about this super cooler? According to Grepper, it was time these things got an upgrade, and the Coolest Cooler does so much more than keep your beverages cold. It features a built-in blender, a waterproof USB charger, an LED light, a bottle opener, gear tie-down, and removable wireless waterproof speakers. Read More

How to clean the summer grime from your phone

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Sure, a good phone case will protect your device from damage, but it can’t prevent debris such as sand, water, and grease from sneaking in there and wreaking havoc. The summer has just begun, and since your phone travels outdoors with you, you might want to keep these tips in mind in case your phone somehow winds up in a messy situation.

 

Sand

Phone_Sand

 

Let’s face it, the beach and your phone aren’t a good mix. It’s hard to see the screen in the bright sunlight, and worst of all, if you make one wrong move and your phone winds up on the ground, the sand will easily make its way into the cracks and crevices and can damage the inside of your phone.

If sand gets in your phone, make sure to turn it off before cleaning it, and use a small can of compressed air to blow the sand out of the phone’s most sensitive spots. If you don’t have a can of compressed air handy, a vacuum with a small crevice tool can do the trick. Read More

When I Was A Kid In The Summer

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

Buzz of the pool, barbeque’s glossy air

Swaying beneath painted skies

Drops of chlorine slipping from the ends of my hair

Splattering around prune-like toes, mixing with the popsicle raining down my sticky wrists

Family and neighbors laughing with food in their mouths

Dog’s eyes scurrying up the table

Chicken lathered in sauce, bread stuffed with meat, butter melting into corn on styrofoam plates, sheltered under umbrella

Brothers and cousins chasing me up the slide as I snatch the first firefly, only to release it to the first twinkling star

The History of Pimm’s No.1 Cup

Posted on by Nicole DiGiose

 An article I wrote for Chilled Magazine. I just finished and submitted it today. If anyone has any feedback or information, please leave a comment!

Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was invented by James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, in the early 1840s. The thirst-quenching drink is based on gin with a mixture of herbs and fruit extracts. The original recipe included quinine because of its medicinal qualities. Pimm originally served his brew as a digestive aid in a small tankard called the No.1 cup, hence the name, “Pimm’s No. 1 Cup.” The drink was a big hit, so Pimm expanded his business to sell it by the bottle to other taverns.

Pimm built a chain of restaurants in many locations, including The Old Bailey and other places that businessmen would likely come across. By 1859, Pimm’s No. 1 Cup was on sale outside of his restaurants. Years later, Pimm sold his tonic drink business because the rights to it ended up with the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Horatio David Davies. It was Davies who made the drink fashionable, particularly amongst the military, because of his connection with London Society.

It was after the Second World War that Pimm’s expanded their range. They began using a number of different spirits as bases for cups. Pimm’s No. 2 Cup was scotch-based while No. 3 used brandy, No. 4 rum, No. 5 rye and No. 6 vodka. The vodka cup and brandy cup are the only ones still in production out of the sequels. The original No. 1 Cup is still very popular. It is often thought of as the number two English drink (tea being the first). The gin-based beverage is downed by the gallon in England during the summer months, especially during sporting events like the tennis tournament, Wimbledon Fortnight and the rowing event, Henley Royal Regatta. The first Pimm’s bar opened at the 1971 Wimbledon tournament, where over 80,000 pints of Pimm’s and lemonade continue to be sold each year. Read More