10 Kickstarters the World Needs in 2015

As we say goodbye to 2014, we’re saying hello to a brand new year filled with awesome Kickstarters that are making us do some serious rubbernecking. Some of the tech we’ve listed here may seem so futuristic that you’ll be surprised to find they’ll be available in the coming year. From the world’s first hoverboard (we seriously can get over this!) to a phone scanner that prints your pictures as Polaroids, you’re not going to want to miss out on any of these.

1. Gmail for Mac: If you haven’t noticed — we love Gmail and how it totally switched up the email game. There are great Gmail apps for our mobile devices, but there isn’t an app that integrates our Gmail with our desktops. That’s why the programmers at Zive created Gmail for Mac, an app that stands on its own. It has its own drop-down bar so you can see a quick overview of multiple accounts and access whatever you need efficiently. You can even send huge files because Zive flawlessly integrated Google Drive as well. Oh and for those times when you just can’t bare to look at all those messages piling up, you can click Zen Mode to keep it all on standby. Although their Kickstarter campaign has ended, you can still get the app for only $5. But hurry because after their pre-order period, the regular price will be $10.

2. Impossible: If someone told you that this electric bike could fit into their backpack, you might call that Impossible — and you’re right. Well, kind of. It’s called Impossible, but it is actually possible to fit the bike into a backpack. Assembly is quickly with just four simple steps. Riding it is an even a bigger breeze: You don’t even need to pedal. It can ride up to 12 mph for 45 minutes on just a single charge, and with a $450 pledge, you can have the Impossible.

3. SnapJet: Polaroid has come a long way since their first instant cam, constantly adapting to changes in technology. First, they came out with their Z340 that let you preview your photos before printing them out. Then they released the Z2300, which prints out your selfies with an adhesive backing. But this Kickstarter is taking Polaroids to the next level. Using Polaroid 300 and Fuji Instax Mini Film, SnapJet allows you to scan and instantly print any pictures that you’ve taken on your phone. You can easily print high-quality photos with filter or #nofilter and decorate, make and keep memories in an old-school way with new-school tech. If you scrub your photos under water, your Polaroids will turn into transparencies for some additional fun. You can get your own SnapJet for $129 on their Kickstarter today.

4. MAGE: Code your own iOS, Android and Ubuntu apps with this app. You don’t even need any coding or programming knowledge to use it. The UI is beyond user friendly and great for both beginners and advanced app developers alike. If you’re a business owner with a website, you can create the perfect app by having MAGE scan through your site and pull pictures and text from it. You can even make your own fitness app or game. Will you create the next viral app? You can by pledging anywhere from $99 to $299 on their Kickstarter.

5. Hendo Hoverboard: Yup, it’s real. And yeah, we’re freaking out too. The world’s first HOVERBOARD is on Kickstarter, and its hover technology makes it seem like hovercars aren’t too far from reality either. Underneath the board, there are four hover engines that create an opposing magnetic field, causing the board to lift. The Kickstarter was just funded, but during its run, you could cop a hoverboard for $10,000.

6. Hush Smart Earplugs: Party next door? Got a boo who’s a loud snorer? Sometimes you just want to turn down the volume of everything around you. Sure there are earplugs, but sometimes they don’t do their job well enough. That’s where Hush comes in. Made of comfortable memory foam and mini circuit boards, these smart earplugs block out the noise outside while letting you hear important notifications and the alarms of your choosing. The app also has the option to play soothing sounds — to really drown out the “unce-unce” bass from the neighbor’s party — or to play binaural beats. You can save $35 off the retail price on their Kickstarter by pledging $115.

7. Flux All-in-One 3D Printer: Real talk: This printer can do it all. With interchangeable modules, the Flux All-in-One 3D Printer is a 3D printer, 3D scanner and a laser engraver, all in one. You can design your own projects through the FLUX Studio app. The app is versatile in that it caters to a wide range of design levels. What’s more? New modules will constantly be released. The ones currently being developed are a dual extruder, ceramics extruder and a pastry extruder!

8. GoGlove: Have you ever run into a friend with earbuds in, music blasting and hands too full to do anything about it? Have you ever wanted to turn your music down while you were exercising without having to take out your phone and toggle through the music app? GoGlove is a pair of thin, Bluetooth-enabled gloves that use AirTap technology. You can turn your music down by having your thumb tap your pinky and you can control your GoPro by tapping your index finger. Its thin fabric lets you wear thicker gloves over it without having it be too bulky. So if you’re washing dishes, skiing down slopes or wearing some cute knit gloves, you can freely and seamlessly control your music. You can get a pair for $49 as an early bird special on their Kickstarter.

9. Point: For those times when you want to keep an eye on your house without having to install intrusive cameras and hidden sensors, there’s Point. Point is a smart house sitter that can gauge noise levels, identify gas or cigarette smoke, monitor abnormal temperature levels and even listen for sounds of shattering windows. Just stick the smoke-detector-like device onto a wall and any unusual activity will trigger a notification via the Point app. This smart house sitter is great for softly monitoring your house whether you’re gone for a long vacation or leasing out your apartment. Point raised over quadruple their pledged amount on their Kickstarter. You can still pre-order one here.

10. Swiftpoint GT: With tablets and touchscreen devices running rampant, we’re wondering how a mouse like the Swiftpoint GT hasn’t been invented until now. Scrolling through apps and accessing swipe functions require you to use both your mouse and your fingers. When you’re working on your Macbook Pro in bed, there’s no way for you to use your mouse comfortably. But with the Swiftpoint GT, Windows 7, 8, 10 and other touchscreen devices can be navigated with the stylus-like pointer along the side of the mouse. Its compact size allows it to fit perfectly on the bare corners of your laptops. And it’s comfortable for anyone thanks to an ergonomic, pen-like grip. The Kickstarter has successfully been funded seven times over their $25,000 goal. You can pre-order your Swiftpoint GT for $93 here.

Which Kickstarter became a 2015 must-have? Talk to us in the comments!

While in America we may toast to the new year with Champagne and eat black-eyed peas for good luck, those who celebrate the Lunar New Year have a host of food traditions that symbolize wealth, health, and family unity. At a Lunar New Year celebration dinner at Hakkasan in San Francisco hosted by Tiger Beer, we learned about the eight items that have been served each year on the Lunar Near Year for centuries. Why eight? In Chinese, the number eight (huat), translates to “get wealthy.”

Scroll to see the 8 lucky Lunar New Year foods you should eat this year!

China Sichuan Food

1. Dumplings

Steamed dumplings are shaped like the ancient Chinese gold currency, called ingot, and represent wealth. According to legend, the number of dumplings you eat during the new year corresponds to the amount of money you’ll make that year. That’s reason enough to eat an extra dumpling (or five). (via China Sichuan Food)

The Woks of Life

2. Whole Steamed Fish

Yu means both fish and prosperity in Chinese. Dining on a whole fish during the Lunar New Year embodies family unity. (via The Woks of Life)

Woks of Life

3. Longevity Noodles

Here’s your reason to slurp noodles and not break them — the longer the noodles, the longer the life of the person who consumes them, legend has it. If you can, splurge on Longevity Noodles, a large portion of noodles that contains just one long strand that is not cut, which is why it tends to be on the pricier side. (via Woks of Life)

The Hong Kong Cookery

4. Rice

The stickiness of steamed jasmine rice is another symbol of a family “sticking” together. Some families celebrate with an “Eight Treasures Rice Pudding,” a stunning rice dessert that stars glutinous rice and eight toppings: candied lotus, green raisins, pine nuts, black raisins, dried dates, dried wolfberries, dried apricots, and red maraschino cherries (for luck!). (viaThe Hong Kong Cookery)

Dumpling Sisters

5. Garlic

The word for garlic in Chinese is suan, which translates to “counting.” Tradition has it that those who celebrate the Lunar New Year eat lots of garlic to count all of the money they will make in the new year. It’s found in almost every dish, including stir-fried prawns. (via Dumpling Sisters)

The Woks of Life

6. Red Foods

Red is the prominent color used in the Lunar New Year and is found in the decor, food, and most notably, the red envelopes filled with money gifted to loved ones during this time. The color red is associated with good luck, fortune, and joy. A table during the Lunar New Year will be filled with red foods like crab, peking duck, shrimp, barbecue pork, and more. (via The Woks of Life)

Chinese Healthy Cooking

7. Glutinous Rice Balls

Dinner ends with sweet, round glutinous rice balls filled with red bean paste. The round shape supposedly indicates a smooth year ahead, family reunion, and good luck! (via Chinese Healthy Cooking)

garysoup/Flicker

8. Mandarin Oranges

The official fruit of the new year, mandarin oranges, ju in Chinese, sounds like the word for lucky, ji. They are abundantly gifted throughout the New Year celebration.

If you want to learn more about the foods eaten around the world, and about the Lunar New Year, check out Brit + Co’s recipes on Pinterest.

This post has been updated.

Numerous rumors about potentially-contaminated Girl Scout cookies have been floating around, and Girl Scouts of the USA is finally addressing them.

Sources reported the presence of toxic metals and glyphosate in the popular cookies and noted that it poses “profound ethical and public health concerns.” Here’s what Girl Scouts had to say.

Scroll on to learn more about what’s going on with the latest Girl Scout cookie contamination news.

Girl Scouts of the USA

The idea that Girl Scout cookies might be contaminated first arose in December 2024 when GMOScience and Moms Across America released a joint-commissioned reporttitled “Danger in the Dough: Unveiling the Toxic Contaminants in Girl Scout Cookies.”

The report found that 100% of the Girl Scout cookie samples they tested were positive for glyphosate and toxic metals and 88% of samples were positive for all 5 toxic metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury), with significant percentages of the samples testing positive for cadmium and lead.

Girl Scouts of the USA

In the report, both groups said that the continual sale of Girl Scout cookies poses “profound ethical and public health concerns,” and slightly called out Girl Scouts of the USA for not allocating more money towards “better ingredients."

The GMOScience and Moms Across America report also cited a lack of government oversight when it comes to food safety and that entities like the FDA and EPA “have not fulfilled their commitment.”

Girl Scouts of the USA

Despite the reports about contamination, Girl Scouts of the USA says Girl Scout Cookies are “safe to consume.” In an official statement, they assured the public that their cookies comply with FDA and EPA food safety standards. They also noted that heavy metals are not purposefully added to their cookies.

Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA made sure to note that “environmental contaminants” like heavy metals and glyphosate can occur naturally in soil, though in very small, trace amounts.

The FDA verified this, saying naturally-occurring heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury are just a “reality about our food supply.”

Girl Scouts of the USA

Girl Scouts of the USA highlighted that their cookie suppliers “continue to ensure the integrity of [their] recipes and the safety of all Girl Scout Cookie products in accordance with federal regulations and Global Food Safety initiative standards.”

Girl Scouts of the USA

The real issue at hand is not just Girl Scout cookies – it’s that our frameworks for food safety have plenty of wiggle room for toxic metals and chemicals to be present in our food.

In fact, it’s become so common that we tend to forget all about it – likely why cookie lovers were up in arms about the contamination news.

Girl Scouts of the USA

GMOScience and Moms Across America echoed this exact sentiment in their report, calling for the development of organic and regenerative farming to eradicate potential contamination altogether.

They also called on Girl Scouts of the USA to play a larger role in “transforming our food and farming system.”

Subscribe to our newsletter for more current food news!

Sometimes, one tool is all it takes to become the best version of yourself. Keeping track of a planner or calendar can make organizing your life a total breeze, whether you’re focused on managing work, wellness, or wealth – or all of the above! These 2025 planners and calendars help turn chaos into calm so you can feel totally on top of your game in order to crush your New Year’s goals.

Scroll on to find your dream 2025 planner or calendar so you can stay on track all year long!

2025 Planners

Amazon

1. Paperage 2025 Weekly & Monthly Hardcover Planner

A planner that has both weekly and monthly formats can be super helpful if you've simply got a lot going on. That way, you've got a look at the nitty gritty and the big picture.

Amazon

Having both date formats at your disposal also makes looking back at the year super fun, offering a visual timeline of all the things you achieved in 2025.

Amazon

2. Kate Spade New York Daily Planner August 2024-December 2025

This wire-bound planner looks downright adorable, plus it comes with several fun sticker sheets to help you keep planning playful.

Amazon

This one is also great if you like to bring your planner on the go – its hard cover easily stands up to daily use!

Amazon

3. Taja 2025 Weekly & Monthly Planner

This unique 2025 planner kicks off each month with an inspiring quote to further motivate you towards your goals. Whether you're a student, parent, teacher, or working professional, you'll definitely enjoy the ample planning space this pick has to offer.

Amazon

4. Waav 2025 Weekly & Monthly Planner

The calm, minimalist look of this weekly and monthly planner helps clear out any mental clutter you may have before starting your workweek or tackling weekend errands.

Amazon

5. Orange Circle Studio 2025 Planner

This shroomy spiral planner would be perfect for organizing any outdoorsy plans in 2025.

Amazon

In addition to weekly and monthly calendars throughout, it comes with a goal planner, a budget tracker, and a blank notes section for any miscellaneous points you don't wanna miss.

Amazon

6. Day Designer 2025 Daily Planner

This high-quality planner is totally worth the splurge, especially if you're super loyal to your planner and use it every day. In it, you'll find tabbed monthly planners alongside weekly and daily spreads that include blank writing spaces for notes, gratitude, and your top three priorities for the day. Score!

Amazon

7. Happy Planner Disc-Bound 12-Month Planner

The cheerful and colorful print on this planner is perfect for setting a productive mood!

Amazon

8. Graphique 18-Month July 2024-December 2025 Hardbound Spiral Planner

The graphic on the front of this 2025 planner says it all: "I'm at capacity." Luckily, its pages are equipped with plenty of spaces and guides to help you handle all of life's chaos with ease.

Amazon

9. Anecdote 2025 Daily Workflow Planner

The page layouts in this planner are so sleek and sophisticated. You'll be able to see every plan and point very clearly, so you never miss a beat amidst all the busy-ness.

Amazon

Its hard cover is bound by an elastic band so you don't risk pages ripping or folding.

2025 Calendars

Amazon

1. Karto Vertical 2025 Wall Calendar

This wall cal with earth tones will match any workspace.

Amazon

The bottom section allows you to list any notes and top priorities you may have for the respective month!

Amazon

2. Zicoto 2025 Aesthetic Desk Calendar

If you're more of a desk calendar type of person, this aesthetically-pleasing one comes propped up so you always have a clear view of what's on the docket.

Amazon

3. Ban.do 'Let Me Write That Down' 2025 Wall Calendar

Planners and calendars shouldn't be boring – spice up your walls with this super colorful pick! The vertical orientation feels more updated and playful than a horizontal one, so you could easily hang it up anywhere.

Amazon

4. Graphique 2025 Flower Pop Wall Calendar

This floral-themed cal keeps your space lookin' fresh with a nice pop of color.

Amazon

5. Poketo Undated Monthly Vertical Wall Calendar

This month-by-month wall calendar comes without numbered days, so you can start it whenever you please, no matter the year. The neutral color palette keeps your planning sessions nice and calm.

Amazon

6. Taja Abstract Art 2025 Wall Calendar

This wall calendar works just as well as wall art as it does a planning tool. Each month reveals a new lively print to help you stay motivated.

Amazon

7. Vintage Fruits 2025 Wall Calendar

This has got to be one of the cutest 2025 planners out there. It's filled with 12 different vintage-esque illustrations of fruits that'll make your space feel cozy as ever.

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more editor-loved products all year long!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered a Super Bowl tough loss on February 9, 2025, and there's one major thing on everyone's mind now — is Travis Kelce retiring? The subject's come up multiple times throughout the 2024-2025 NFL season, but much like his brother Jason the previous year, Travis hasn't given a definitive answer on the matter. Amid everything from Taylor Swift wedding rumors to starring TV roles (anyone else watch Grotequerie?!), the Chiefs tight end definitely has a lot going on right now. Could all this — plus an overall great football season, sans the Super Bowl loss — add up to the end of his NFL career? Here's what we know so far.

Scroll to find out everything we know about if Travis Kelce's retiring.

On February 12, 2025, Travis Kelce opened up about his potential retirement on the New Heights podcast. "I know everybody wants to know whether or not I'm playing next year, and right now, I'm just kicking everything down the road," he said. "I'm not making any crazy decisions."

Travis shared that the Super Bowl loss a "tough pill to swallow" and a "tough reality," but also noted that the Chiefs team is focused on "being there" for each other in the aftermath.

"I'm gonna take some time to figure it out. And, I think I owe it to my teammates that if I do come back, it's a wholehearted decision," he said. "I'm not half-a--ing it, and I'm fully here for them."

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

During the 2025 Super Bowl, Travis only made four catches, resulting in a gain of 39 yards — his "lowest postseason output since 2019" according to The Athletic. Still, USA Todayreported that he broke Jerry Rice's record of 35 career Super Bowl catches. However, it was pretty clear that even a record-breaking performance wasn't enough to bolster Travis's mood.

The football star didn't hold a larger post-game conference, but he noted that they "haven't played that bad all year" and said that the Chiefs "couldn’t get it going offensively" to a few reporters. He acknowledged, "You don't lose like that without everything going bad," before leaving for the night.

x.com

Still, Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes was asked about what comes next for Travis's career. "I'll let Travis make that decision on his own," Patrick said. "He's given so much to this team and to the NFL, and he's been such a joy, not only for me to work with, but for people to watch."

Mahomes notes Travis "still has a lot of football left in him" and that he "always makes plays in the biggest moments." He said, "But I know he still has a love for the game, and he’ll get to spend some time with his family and make that decision on his own."

Patrick reassured everyone, "He knows he’ll come back here with open arms. We love that guy not only for the football player, but for who he is every single day."

x.com

Travis made his way to the suite with Taylor and his family after the tough Chiefs loss. It was a stark contrast from his "fight for your right to party" vibes of last year, so we hope we was able to find some comfort among his loved ones. And as for if Travis is actually retiring, we'll definitely keep an eye out for what he says and does next. 👀

Looking for more sports and celebrity news? Be sure to follow us on Facebook so you never miss a thing!

We can always count on our favorite streamers to give us the best content, like, ever. In addition to The Best New TV Shows Coming To Netflix In February, there are some truly stellar titles on Max this month — including a few you can already watch! We might have to wait a few more months for The Last of Us season 2, but these new TV shows make that wait a little easier.

Here are the 8 best TV shows on Max in February 2025.

1. The White Lotus Season 3 — Stream on Max February 16, 2025

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Start your spring break early by joining the new White Lotus cast in Thailand. This season, which debuts new episodes every week at 9PM EST, explores all things pleasure and pain, and trust me: you'll be on the edge of your seat the whole time.

The White Lotus season 3 stars Leslie Bibb, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Monaghan, Carrie Coon, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal.

2. Eyes on the Prize III: We Who Believe In Freedom Cannot Rest — Stream on Max February 25, 2025

Daily Express/Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images

This 6-episode docuseries tells the story of the racial justice communities and leaders working today, following the birth of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s.

3.The Pitt — Stream new episodes on Max every Thursday

Warrick Page/Max

This entire 15-episode drama takes place over the course of a single shift at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room, broken down into 15 one-hour segments. I'm hooked!

The Pitt stars Noah Wyle, Tracey Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez, and Katherine LaNasa.

4. Baylen Out Loud — Stream new episodes on Max every Monday

TLC

This new TV show follows Baylen Dupree, who's making her way through love and life in West Virginia with extreme Tourette Syndrome.

Baylen Out Loud stars Baylen Dupree.

5. 90 Day: The Last Resort — Stream all episodes on Max now

TLC

These 90 Day duos are facing reality while at a group couples retreat — and they have to figure out if they're going to continue their happily ever after or go home on their own.

90 Day: The Last Resort stars Ed Brown, Yara Zaya, Angela Deem, Jovi Dufren, and Kalani Faagata.

6. The Takedown: American Aryans — Stream all episodes on Max now

Max

This documentary show follows the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas over the last 20+ years — and the murder of a young woman that changes everything.

The Takedown: American Aryans is directed and produced by Neil Rawles.

7. The Fall of Diddy — Stream all episodes on Max now

Max/ID

True crime fans will want to tune into this series, which examines the allegations against rapper and executive Sean Combs.

8. The West Wing — Stream on Max now

NBC

Get your old school TV kick with the OG political drama, which follows the lives of the people working inside the White House.

The West Wing stars Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Allison Janney, John Spencer, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, and Richard Schiff.

Tag us with your current streaming faves on Instagram!