Lost + Found: 4 Ways to Track Everything You Own With Your Phone

Feb 24, 2013

Sometimes important things get lost. Don’t worry, it’s not your fault! Car keys throw themselves away, and wallets grow legs and walk off. And if anyone has ever lost a wandering dog, you know just how hectic life can be when you lose something very meaningful to you.

In an effort to spend less time tracking down our valuables, we thought we’d fill you guys in on four different apps and wireless locators to help you keep track of all your essentials. Lost, meet found.

1. BiKN ($130): First up is the BiKN. This one is an obvious favorite because it comes in very colorful options. Another advantage of the BiKN is that it works two ways: your phone tracks your things, and your things track your phone. Because sometimes that lost item IS your phone. We also love that the BiKN phone case ensures you can locate items even when your phone is dead. For now, the BiKN is only available to iPhone users but we’re crossing fingers for a Windows and Android version soon.

Stick-N-Find

posted about a couple of months ago, the Stick-N-Find. We love that the Stick-N-Find locator chips are so small and unobtrusive. The virtual leash feature makes it a great solution for pet lovers. This handy technology sends you an alert if your pet wanders outside of a predetermined range. (Perfect for my own rambunctious pup, Pixel.) The Stick-N-Find is available for all you Android and iPhone users.

3. Cobra Tag ($60): The Cobra Tag has many of the same features as the BiKN and The Stick-N-Find, but comes in at a much nicer pricepoint. Like the BiKN, it has two-way finding functionality. Your phone tracks your stuff, and your stuff tracks your phone. The PhoneHalo feature is one of the biggest advantages of the Cobra Tag. It automatically locks your phone if you go outside of the range of your tagged item. Cobra Tag is available for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry users.

4. hipKey ($90): We’re digging the hipKey for it’s sleek Apple-like design. It triggers an alarm each time you’re out of range of your tagged items. Phone alarms can be scarring, but the hipKey alarm is pleasant — you can give it a try on their website. The app interface is easy to use, and has great maps integration. hipKey is only available for iOS. You can even snag one at the Apple Store.

We are rearing to try all four of these lost-and-found devices and have heard positive reviews about each. Have any of you guys used one of ’em? We’d love to hear your thoughts and reviews!

10 Vegan Costco Finds Snack Lovers Will Instantly Crave

Costco is truly vegan-friendly, and there are plenty of plant-based snacks to prove it. From protein-packed treats to crave-worthy sweets, these 10 vegan finds from Costco make snacking both easy and delicious. If you're on the hunt for more fun vegan snacks, you’re going to want to see these Costco gems – and keep ‘em stocked in your kitchen 24/7.

Scroll on for the 10 best vegan snacks Costco has to offer!

Costco

Simply Protein Crispy Bars

This variety pack of protein bars delivers 13 grams of protein per serving (score!), all in the tastiest flavors like peanut butter chocolate, lemon coconut, and dark chocolate almond.

Costco

Pure Organic Layered Fruit Bars

Each one of these organic fruit bars boasts three layers of deliciousness, and they're made with all real ingredients! You'll have something different to snack on every day with the trio of fruity flavors included.

Costco

Unreal Dark Chocolate Coconut Minis

These tiny bites are essentially like a better-for-you version of Almond Joy, with a nugget of organic shredded coconut surrounded by a dark chocolate coating. Yum!

Costco

Orgain + Justin's Peanut Butter Protein Powder

You can easily use this peanut butter-flavored protein powder to give smoothies, yogurt bowls, baked goods, and so much more a nice vegan protein boost! There's 20 grams of protein in each serving to fill you up when you need it most.

Costco

Kiss My Keto Tropical Ring Gummies

These vegan (and keto!) gummy candies will most certainly satisfy your sweet tooth, all for less than 1 gram of sugar per serving! It's truly rare to find vegan gummies as good as these.

Costco

Gourmet Nut Power Up Trail Mix

These individually-packaged bags of trail mix make 'em the perfect grab-and-go snack for road trips, hikes, camping trips, and long days running errands. The pack comes with three different vegan medleys to suit your cravings!

Costco

Bobo's PB&Js Oat Sandwich Bars

These oat sandwich bars are addicting. They're like a portable version of your typical PB&J, which makes snack time unbelievably easy. This box from Costco comes prepped with two different flavors – strawberry and grape – so you can switch things up on the fly.

Costco

Skinny Pop Popcorn

You'll practically want to inhale this 100%-vegan popcorn. Luckily, being non-GMO and only 100 calories per bag, you can do so, guilt-free.

Costco

Red Delight Vegan Dark Chocolate Bars

Chocolate is good, but dark chocolate is even better! This 2-pack of vegan dark chocolate comes with 30 bite-size per pack – that's 60 snacktimes total!

Costco

Lenny & Larry's White Chocolate Macadamia The Complete Cookie

This delicious 12-pack of Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookies carries a whopping 16 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber per cookie to satisfy your cravings for sweets.

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11 Romance TV Shows You Can Stream On Netflix Right Now

The internet agrees that rom-coms are back (hello Materialists!), but the only thing I enjoy more than watching a romantic movie? Binging a romance TV show. So I rounded up 11 of the best series you can watch on Netflix this weekend (and rewatch before all episodes of Ransom Canyon drop on the streamer!)

Here are the 11 best romance TV shows to stream on Netflix right now.

1. Nobody Wants This

Saeed Adyani/Netflix

Joanne's an agnostic sex podcaster, Noah's a rabbi. Falling for each other doesn't sound too complicated, right? (Wrong). This show is heartfelt, hilarious, and all around sweet. Meet the season 2 cast!

Nobody Wants This stars Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe, Timothy Simons, Stephanie Faracy, Tovah Feldshuh, Paul Ben-Victor, Michael Hitchcock, Jackie Tohn, Sherry Cola, Shiloh Bearman, Emily Arlook, Leighton Meester, Miles Fowler, Alex Karpovsky, and Arian Moayed.

2. My Life With The Walter Boys

Netflix

After a tragedy changes Jackie's life forever, the city girl moves in with her mom's best friend — and her seven sons. Welcomed into the family, Jackie finds herself particularly pulled between Alex and Cole. Check out the latest season 2 news on this romance TV show.

My Life With the Walter Boys stars Nikki Rodriguez, Noah LaLonde, Ashby Gentry, Marc Blucas, Johnny Link, Corey Fogelmanis, Connor Stanhope, Dean Petriw, Alix West Lefler, Lennix James, Sarah Rafferty, Natalie Sharp, Carson MacCormac, Janet Kidder, Riele Downs, and Jake Manley.

3. Never Have I Ever

Netflix

This coming-of-age comedy from Mindy Kaling covers all the embarrassing parts of first love (and growing up in general, TBH) and Devi navigates love, life, and loss. Actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan spills on all the behind the scenes secrets in our exclusive interview!

Never Have I Ever stars Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Poorna Jagannathan, Richa Moorjani, Jaren Lewison, Darren Barnet, Ramona Young, Lee Rodriguez, and John McEnroe.

4. Love is Blind

Netflix

Take a step into reality TV with this groundbreaking romance show. Finding love without ever seeing the other person's face? That's one dating strategy I haven't tried yet.

Love is Blind is hosted by Vanessa & Nick Lachey.

5. Running Point

Netflix

For any Netflix viewers who need more than just romance to get through a show, check out Kate Hudson's Running Point! The series follows Isla, who takes over her brother's role as President of the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. And she's proving you really can work and play.

Running Point stars Kate Hudson, Brenda Song, Drew Tarver, Scott MacArthur, Fabrizio Guido, Toby Sandeman, Chet Hanks, Max Greenfield, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Roberto Sanchez, Uche Agada, and Dane DiLiegro.

6. Geek Girl

Netflix

Harriet has never fit in. But that works in her favor when she gets scouted by a London model agent. This romance TV show also has plenty of fashion, and conversations around bullying. Sounds good to me.

Geek Girl stars Emily Carey,Emmanuel Imani, Sarah Parish, Liam Woodrum, Tim Downie, Zac Looker, Jemima Rooper, Sandra Yi Sencindiver, Daisy Jelley, and Rochelle Harrington.

7. Bridgerton

StillMoving.Net for Netflix

All's fair in love and writing...and least according to Lady Whistledown. Bridgerton season 4 is coming soon, and until we get new episodes, the marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, and friends-to-lovers plotlines will have to hold us over!

Bridgerton stars Yerin Ha, Luke Thompson, Luke Newton, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Bailey, Simone Ashley, Claudia Jessie, Hannah Dodd, Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Harriet Cains, Nicola Coughlan, Jessica Madsen, Bessie Carter, and Masali Baduza.

8. XO, Kitty

Netflix

Kitty's taking a lesson from Lara Jean in this To All The Boys I've Loved Before spinoff. But this time, our favorite low-key matchmaker is traveling to Seoul — and learning just how complicated love really is.

XO, Kitty stars Anna Cathcart, Audrey Huynh, Sasha Bhasin, Joshua Lee, Minyeong Choi, Gia Kim, Sang Heon Lee, Anthony Keyvan, Peter Thurnwald, Regan Aliyah, and Noah Centineo.

9. Emily in Paris

Stéphanie Branchu/Netflix

Emily also moves across the world when she becomes the American face at a French marketing firm. With incredible fashion, a plucky American attitude, and an inability to speak French, Em definitely makes an impression on everyone she meets — including a couple handsome strangers.

Emily in Paris stars Lily Collins, Lucas Bravo, Lucien Laviscount, Ashley Park, Camille Razat, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, Samuel Arnold, and Bruno Gouery.

10. Virgin River

Petr Maur/Netflix

If you're still in a cozy mood, press play on this romance TV show about a big city doctor who moves to a small town. Virgin River sounds a little bit like Sullivan's Crossing doesn't it?!

Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Marco Grazzini, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure, and Mark Ghanime.

11. From Scratch

Philippe Antonello/Netflix

Celebrate Zoe Saldaña's recent Oscar win by watching this super emotional Netflix show. (Warning: you're going to ugly cry!!) The story follows Amy and Lino, who fall in love before a devastating diagnosis changes the course of their lives.

Which romance TV show will you be watching this weekend? Let us know on Facebook!

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9 “Gross” Cooking Habits You May Not Realize You’re Making

Everyone has their own unique way of doing things in the kitchen, but some habits are certainly more cringe-worthy than you might think – especially ones that may be considered gross, unhygienic, or unsafe. There are quite a few cooking missteps that could put you and others at risk, or simply make ‘em squeamish. If you’ve ever wondered whether your cooking habits are flawless or low-key gross, it’s time for a quick reality check.

Scroll on for 8 “gross” cooking habits to avoid in the kitchen to retain a clean, safe space to enjoy your most favorite meals!

Burst / PEXELS

1. Not washing your hands before handling food.

Your hands touch all sorts of things throughout the day, all of which carry tons of bacteria and germs you may not even realize are there. If you don’t wash your hands before cooking, you risk transferring dirt, bacteria, and even viruses onto your food, increasing the chances of contamination and foodborne illnesses.

Vanessa Loring / PEXELS

2. Handling raw meat and then immediately touching other ingredients or surfaces.

Raw meat – especially poultry and seafood – carries bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. If you touch the raw meat you're cooking with and then handle various vegetables, seasonings, or kitchen surfaces without washing your hands, you could spread harmful bacteria, leading to dangerous cross-contamination and potential food poisoning.

Dapur Melodi / PEXELS

3. Licking your fingers and continuing to cook.

Licking your fingers while cooking might seem harmless (especially if you’re just cooking for yourself or one other person), but it can introduce bacteria from your mouth onto the food and other kitchen surfaces. This is especially unhygienic if you're cooking for others, as it spreads germs and increases the risk of contamination!

Kaboompics / PEXELS

4. Not washing your produce properly.

Nowadays, fruits and vegetables can carry pesticides, dirt, and bacteria from the handling, shipping, and storage processes. If you don’t rinse them thoroughly before eating or cooking ‘em, you risk ingesting harmful chemicals or bacteria like Listeria. Yikes.

Kristina Snowasp / PEXELS

5. Using the same knife + cutting board for raw meat and other foods without washing.

When you cut up raw meat and then immediately use the same knife or cutting board for the rest of the ingredients in your meals, you can totally transfer bacteria. This is especially important to avoid for items that may not be cooked further! It’s simply essential to wash your utensils and tools between uses or use separate ones for raw meat and other foods.

Juan Pablo Serrano / PEXELS

6. Using the same spoon for stirring and tasting.

Dipping a spoon into food, tasting it (even if it’s quick!), and then putting it back in the pot can potentially transfer bacteria from your mouth to the entire dish. This is wildly unsanitary when you’re cooking for a group, as it introduces germs or bacteria that others may not be immune to. The best practice here is to use a separate spoon for tasting or wash it briefly before using it again.

Mojca J / PEXELS

7. Sneezing or coughing near your food.

When you sneeze or cough, tiny droplets of bacteria or viruses can land on everything around your kitchen: food, utensils, and cooking surfaces. If you don’t cover your mouth properly or sneeze directly over food, you risk contaminating the meal, which is both unsanitary (and unappetizing) for anyone eating it.

PNW Production / PEXELS

8. Using the same towel for drying your hands, wiping surfaces, and drying dishes.

It’s crazy how quickly kitchen towels can become breeding grounds for bacteria when they’re used for multiple tasks. If you use the same towel to dry your hands, clean up spills, and dry dishes, you risk spreading germs from raw food particles or dirty hands onto clean surfaces and dishes, making it an easy way to spread bacteria… unknowingly.

RDNE Stock Project / PEXELS

9. Letting your pets near cooking surfaces.

Pets, no matter how clean they seem, carry bacteria, dirt, and even fur with them that can easily contaminate food and kitchen surfaces. Allowing them on countertops or near food prep areas (looking at you, kitties!) increases the risk of spreading germs, especially since pets can’t wash their paws after using the litter box or walking outside.

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