Aaron's Favorite Things 2017

Amazon Echo Show: “Alexa, set pizza timer for 10 minutes, Alexa, re-order La Croix, Alexa play Avery’s Humpday mix from Spotify."  Alexa is slowly taking over my house; I’m even calling my wife Alexa, albeit with less response.  The Alexa Show is Amazon’s top-of-the-line Echo device and deserves prominent kitchen real estate.  Setting multiple kitchen timers, creating/editing shopping lists, ordering or re-ordering products, and playing music is all better with the the visual touch screen.  Set up Echo dots in other rooms and you now have an awesome home-intercom system using Amazon’s “Drop In” function.  “Alexa, Drop-In Riley’s Room.....  Are you up for school?  Dad, Stop!”

Apple AirPods: My left eye still twitches when I see people with wired headphones.  STOP!  Please people, if you have anything with wires, just do 2018 and me a favor, throw them out.  I was never a fan of Apple’s wired earbuds, however, the AirPods fit nicely in your ear and you’ll soon forget they’re even in.  The case acts as a charger and using one AirPod at a time is very handy.  Try out the stealth Podcast road trip: drop one AirPod in your left left ear while driving to Grandmas; your wife will have no idea you’re listening to “Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History,” while she carries on about whether or not to wallpaper the powder room -just remember to periodically nod.

99% Invisible: Speaking of Podcasts, my favorite to date is “99% Invisible,” which tackles random stories often forgotten or unknown to the general public.  In concise, roughly twenty minute productions, one can learn about the first African-American member of the American Institute of Architects, a student crunching numbers for her thesis when she realizes a recently completed New York City high rise is in jeopardy of collapsing, why walking or driving around downtown Salt Lake City just feels weird, or how an advertising agency plucked two relatively unknown decathletes and created the “Dan vs Dave” Olympic phenomenon.   

iPhone X: It’s time to pay the Apple Tax; don’t whine, don’t tell me your current phone is just fine, just do it, pay the tax and join the digital revolution. The X is my favorite iPhone ever and well worth the price tag.  Size, facial recognition, edge-to-edge OLED screen, Augmented Reality, and wireless charging are the main reasons to ditch your slow, battery deficient 6S.  If this is not reason enough, knowing you can communicate with your family as talking poop should seal the deal. 

AG Lux Khaki: I’ve always been a jeans guy, so when my buddy said, “try these and you’ll never wear jeans again,” I was skeptical.  Well, I can’t say never, but I rarely wear jeans anymore.  Jeans feel like heavy sandpaper compared to these silky smooth, light weight, stretchy pants.  They are not cheap, so sign up for their newsletter and wait for a sale to stock up.  They come in just about every color, but grey seems to be my workhorse. 

Tretorn Shoes: In 2nd grade, Bjorn Borg was my hero.  As such, my tennis outfit was all about Filas and Tretorns.  As Bjorn sailed off into the sunset so did the Tretorn brand.  Recently, however, Tretorn made a major come back and my nostalgic self is all over it.  With very reasonable pricing, I bought the whole family including Mom a pair of Tretorns.  The girls actually love their white pairs with silver emblem and I gravitate to the classic black with white emblem.  There are several colors and styles to choose from, so join me and bring back tennis’ golden age with a pair of classic footwear.

Headspace: I was sitting in a bustling NY City subway taking in all the sights and sounds when my eye caught a hypnotic advertisement.  Tunnel vision ensued and the colorful little characters transported me into an alternative dimension.  Well, something like that, but I did make a note to download the app upon returning to the hotel.  Headspace is a wonderful tool for learning and practicing mediation, mindfulness, awareness, consciousness or whatever you want to call the “head space” that exists outside the normal shit show happening between your ears.  

Zen Puzzles: Now that you're in the right head space, you can enjoy a fun zen activity with a hand designed, wooden jigsaw puzzle from Zen Art & Design.  I love sitting down with the family and knocking out a good jigsaw puzzle - a nice break from Netflix, our Binkies (iPhones), and the constant barrage of digital information.  I found Zen Puzzles in a little Ithaca, NY boutique and absolutely love them. I'm not sure why, but clicking the thick wooden pieces into place gives me tactile and overall sensory satisfaction - explains the name.   This is an awesome gift.  Sizes range from 125 to 300 pieces, don't get the large pieces.

1Password: I know you’re hiding your passwords in your contacts or notes.  Ok, so now that your secret is out, it is time to spend a couple dollars on a reliable, efficient password app.  With facial recognition (only with iPhone X), this App is easy to unlock and is a great aggregator for all your online passwords, travel documents, and credit cards.  You probably don’t realize it, but you most likely have more than 150 usernames and passwords (I’m up to 174).  Thank me later.

Shoe Dog: I don’t read business books and I don’t care for the genre, but if Warren Buffet and Bill Gates say it’s their favorite book of the year, I’m listening.  This reads like a seat-of-your-pants page turning novel.   Phil Knight’s Nike story is so unbelievable that after finishing the book, I bought a pair of retro Air Jordan III’s as a hats off.  He absolutely refused to lose, kept fighting and his dogged determination and can’t lose mentality ultimately prevailed.  Buy this book - Just Do It!

 

23andMe: I was always told growing up that I was equal parts 1/4 English, French, German & Irish.  Well, my DNA says otherwise, turns out I’m almost all English and my heritage is of course noble - this is a formal request to all my friends to properly address me as either Lord or Sir, thank you.  In addition to your ancestry composition, 23andMe is the only online company approved by the FDA to perform genetic testing.  I found out I do not have a predisposition to Alzheimer’s, but more importantly, I have little chance of developing back hair.

Muji Notebooks:  While I love taking digital notes on EverNote or Apple Notes, there’s always a time and place for an old school notebook.  I still firmly believe any good idea should be written down -something about pen or pencil to paper that helps manifest the crazy idea du jour.   These Japanese designed notebooks are small, light weight and won’t take up too much space on your desk or in your briefcase (does anyone still have one of these?), satchel or whatever hip Tumi backpack you're rocking.  

Nokia Weight Scale: To think, Nokia, once the world’s largest phone manufacturer (anyone miss snake?) is now relegated to notifying me how many pounds I packed on over the holidays.  This futuristic weight scale wirelessly tracks your weight using an App; I have a chart going back five years and can pinpoint every vacation and Holiday over the years. I like the charts and long term trend line - unlike Nokia’s stock price, my downward trend is positive.

Ring Video Doorbell 2: This is supposedly for security and I’m sure most people use it for that intended purpose.  However, I use it to fight with Amazon - “I don’t care if it says delivered, I’m watching my ring video and no package was delivered at 3:43 PM!”  This front door camera/doorbell notifies your phone if there’s motion at your front door or if someone is ringing your doorbell -you can watch live video and talk to the person.  Customize your alert settings and adjust sensitivity and range of motion.  I have mine set to not show me video of my daughters’ boyfriends kissing them goodnight.    

Roku Streaming Stick: Everyone should travel with a Roku Streaming Stick.  Plug this in your hotel TV's HDMI input and your instantly plugged into your Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Showtime shows.  I’ve had Google’s Chromecast, Amazon’s Firestick and much prefer the Roku - better user interface, content agnostic and superior remote control.  Do not get the 4K version - hotel wifi can be weak, so the less MB's you're downloading the better.  

Clear: TSA Pre lines are synonymous with carpool lanes.  At first, it was great, you sailed right through, but over time, people caught on and congestion ensued.  There’s now a better, VIP way to get through security.  Scan two fingers and boarding pass on their machine and a Clear representative personally escorts you to the very front of the security line right up to the x-ray machines.  If you travel often, this is a no brainer.  

Garrett Leight Glasses: Garret is Larry Leight's (Oliver Peoples Founder) son and is out to make a name for himself.  I first saw a pair featured in a magazine and decided a trip to their Venice boutique would be a good excuse to get me out of the South Bay bubble.  I ended up walking out with three pairs, one pair of spectacles and two pair of sunglasses.  I love their clean look, light weight, and most importantly my hipster neighbor Mich likes them on me.  

Aaron's Favorite Things 2016

Allbirds:  Made from New Zealand superfine merino wool, these are hands down the world's most comfortable shoes.  The best part, they are designed and best worn barefoot; you can throw them in the wash when needed and you're off and running - good as new.  I wear these every day in the Fall and Winter because they keep my typically cold feet warm.  Silicon Valley is going crazy over these shoes - top executives at VC's and supposedly Zuckerberg himself is accessorizing his hoodie look with Allbirds!  I highly recommend getting the classic natural grey - order now though, since they'll most likely be sold out for Christmas.  Best of all - only $99!

     

Stio Lofted Sky Jacket:  I love this jacket so much I bought it twice.  Stio is a Jackson Hole based outdoor clothing company - think Patagonia high-end boutique.  So, come winter time, everyone needs a good "puffer."  I went crazy looking for the perfect puffer and finally ran across this gem while visiting a buddy in Jackson Hole. It is water resistant, has metal zipper teeth, an adjustable hem, zippered interior pocket, a cool interior color.  Overall attention to detail blows away the competition - my favorite is Stio's acorn logo on the back shoulder of the jacket.  I lost this jacket at my 20-year college reunion; I called the company crying and they gave me 40% off to purchase another - so I did :).

Honda Ruckus:  This is my daily commuter from my house to my office; with no parking at the beach, this is a life saver.  Don't worry Mom, I stick to the alleys and rarely go over 20 MPH.  I look like Dumb and Dumber rolling through town, but you can't beat the $2 per month I spend on gas.  I like this scooter because of its rugged look and durability - they say I'll never have issues, unlike more popular models like the Vespa.  

Roku Ultra: If you have a new 4K television then you absolutely must have this.  Roku is the leading streaming device and rightfully so - unlike Apple TV, it streams in 4K and there actually is a lot of 4K content available.  Tons of movies and all of Netflix's killer new shows are all 4K - watching "Narcos" in 4K was sick!  The Roku is also provider agnostic so you can search a show and it compares prices from all providers.  It has a remote finder button, an awesome user interface and a remote control headphone jack if people in your household want you to "turn it down."

Sing Street: Now that you have your Roku Ultra, sit back and stream my favorite movie of 2016, Sing Street.  No, this probably won't be nominated for an Oscar, but if you went to school in the 80's, you will love this movie.  I was looking for a movie to download onto my iPad Pro for a flight (which you can do on Amazon Prime Video by the way); I was specifically looking at Flixster ratings and ran across a movie with 97% critics and 93% user rating.  This is a small budget, coming of age story set in Dublin, but the music and characters are classic; this movie is sure to put a smile on your face.  If you need another movie, stream "Hell or High Water" - unlike Sing Street this movie is assured an Oscar nod.  And, if you're headed to the theatre over the Holidays, go see my other favorite movie of the year, "The Edge Of Seventeen."

Bose QC35 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones: There's a reason Apple released the iPhone 7 without a headphone jack - wireless is awesome and once you cut the cord, you'll never go back.  My office mate and I both upgraded from the QC25's and working and traveling without a cord getting tangled in everything is a game changer - freedom!  Bose's noise cancelling technology still leads the industry; the headphones are lightweight, comfortable and also come with a cord just in case.  Pairing is easy and simple to switch between devices such as a phone and iPad Pro. If you don't like the silver and black options you can go to colorware.com and order a custom pair.  Cut the cord and don't look back!

Apple Watch 2: I feel bad for my nice watches; they sit unwound and idle in an old safe.  Except for suit occasions (weddings & funerals), I always gravitate to my Apple Watch.  My favorite feature, and one often unused by most, is the ability to wirelessly sync your headphones; this is a must for working out.  Watching people jog by holding big phones connected to wired headphones drives me crazy; I'm going to stand on the Strand and nail everyone with a Kooktech citation.   Again, lose the wires people - wireless technology is here!   Get yourself a pair of Powerbeats 3 Wireless Headphones, sync with your watch using Apple Music and enjoy a wireless workout.  I also love the Apple Watch for its varied, custom complications; I can quickly glance at my watch, know the temperature, time, date, next calendar event and my favorite stock's price.    It's also waterproof now, so you can enjoy swimming while it counts your calories and laps.  You can also accessorize and buy multiple watch bands; I recommend a leather and stainless steel band from Amazon for under $20.  I recommend the stainless steel Apple Watch model since it's easier to dress up.

Sunspel Cotton Riviera Mesh Polo Shirt: Throw all your polos out and replace your quiver with this shirt in every color.  Specifically designed for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale, this mesh polo is the most stylish, best fitting most comfortable polo shirt made.  From Nottingham, England, Sunspel has been making polo shirts since the 1950's.  Eschewing the heat stifling pique cotton used in most polos,  Sunspel developed a special fabric that's cool and comfortable to wear during a Riviera summer.  Feel English - roll around in a Range Rover wearing your Sunspel polo and head home to watch "The Crown" with your new 4K Roku.

Zojirushi Stainless Mug (SM-KHE36/48): In my opinion, drinking coffee from a modern-day thermos kills the taste and I just realized why - I can't smell the coffee; it never occurred to me that I need to smell the coffee in order to really taste it!  Enter the Japanese Zojirushi - its wide, pop-up mouth buries your nose in the fresh coffee aroma while eliminating spillage.  Vacuum insulation keeps your coffee or tea hot for hours, the safety lock eliminates accidents during travel and best of all, its compact design is about 30% less voluminous than its rivals.   I have both the 12 oz & 16 oz and use them both depending on the situation.  

Toto Washlet S350e Seat Cover: This was my very first favorite thing in 2011 and continues to be my favorite thing of all time. I'm repeating this because the technology, while very popular in Japan, just has not caught on in the US.  No, it's not a bidet; a little pressure washer wand moves out and cleans your underside with high-pressure, warm water.  No more toilet paper!  How can we use water to clean every part of our body with water but leave arguably the dirtiest for paper?  You will need an outlet next to your toilet, which might require your handy man's help.  The remote attaches to the wall, controlling the angle, water temperature, pressure and the dryer - that's right - hot hair blowing and drying your bum :). The seat is also always warm and the lid opens automatically when you get close.  

10% Happier: Dan Harris, an ABC news anchor/correspondent had a panic attack on national television; this book is his story and the best book I've read yet for introducing, understanding, validating and getting you started in mindfulness & meditation.   I was always a skeptic and thought meditation was for hippies walking around with crystals - you know, Cal students.  Well, at the urging of a friend I gave this a shot and I can attest that meditation has changed my life.  So, all I can say is, just give it a shot.  When you're done with the book, I highly recommend his meditation App titled "10% Happier: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics."    In the App, "The Basics" with Joseph Goldstein is an amazing intro meditation course and the best place to get you started.

Manduka Pro Yoga Mat: Now that your meditating, it's time to go all in and give yoga a shot.   So, I'm at dinner in a Woodstock, NY barn (yes, seriously), having dinner with an Indian friend; we were talking about yoga and he told me he wanted a "Manduka" mat for Father's Day and went into this big spiel as to why it's the ultimate yoga mat.  Well, as it turns out, that was also my wife's and my favorite mat; when I pulled it up on the internet I was surprised and delighted to find out it's my fraternity brother's company.  I love the mat's comfort, durability and the little frog logo is my favorite.

Red Notice: Nothing like a good novel to take down over Christmas break.  From the New York Times: "The grandson of the head of the American Communist party commits the ultimate act of rebellion: He gets a business degree from Stanford.  From there, he goes on to build the biggest hedge fund in Russia."  What happens after that is truly unbelievable; the twists and turns will keep you spellbound and you're guaranteed to finish the book in a couple of days.  Ever wonder what it would be like to be on Putin's bad side?  Well, you're going to find out and I doubt you'll be investing in Russia any time soon.

Tumi Alpha 2 Hanging Travel Kit: If your travel kit does not hang then throw it out - now!  Hotel bathroom counter space is valuable, especially if you're traveling with your wife that brings an extra suitcase just for her toiletries.  So,  hang your Dude Wipes and manscaping clippers out of her way. The Tumi Alpha 2 is the perfect size with numerous compartments and Tumi will personalize the bag with your initials in one of its colorful, signature monogram tags.  Now that you have a new travel kit, you'll need to fill it with a couple items from below.

 

Hazel Hygiene: This is a new sub-category to the list this year - my favorite 2016 hygiene products. Dude Wipes: If you don't have a Toto Washlet, you need these; I still don't see how you think dry toilet paper is adequate - close with a nice moist, flushable Dude Wipe.  Panasonic ER430K Ear & Nose Trimmer: If you are talking to me with a nose hair sticking out, the conversation is over.  My friends, you are now over 40 and your nose and ear hair are aggressive - trim it for God's sake!  Dentek Easy Brushes: Carry in your pocket and pluck out those leftovers after your meals - these reach crevices toothpicks cannot.  ArtNaturals Argan Oil Shampoo, Conditioner & Body & Foot Wash: All three of these are really inexpensive on Amazon and contain tea tree oil, eucalyptus and peppermint - they smell awesome and the oil is key for dry hair.

  Postmates: It's 10:30PM and I'm in bed watching Netflix when my teary-eyed daughter remembers she forgot to buy clear, overhead projector sheets for her presentation the next day.  I'm in the middle of “Narcos” and not moving - Postmates to the rescue!  I open the App, enter Fedex Kinkos and specify I need 10 sheets of projector paper.  Twenty-seven minutes later, the Postmates driver is at my door with the sheets.  Basically, Postmates delivers just about anything from anywhere.  I'm slowly losing all reasons to leave my house.




Heal: Think Uber of Dr's.  Home health care, just like the old days - click on this App and a white-coated Dr. shows up at your door with a nurse.  No more waiting in urgent care waiting rooms sucking in everyone's contagious illnesses.  My daughter was having a difficult time breathing during a beach volleyball tournament and the Dr. showed up at the tournament, gave her an inhaler and she was off and running (or hitting I guess).  The actual Dr.'s are wonderful - most of them where I live are UCLA Medical ER Dr.'s.  I'm not sure why more people in my area have not heard of this App.  Heal currently serves LA, San Diego, Silicon Valley & San Francisco.

  

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Aaron's Favorite Things 2015

iPad Pro: "It's just a really big iPad." Well, they said the iPad was "just a big iPhone."  A big iPad, a Macbook replacement?  I don't know what this thing really is, but I can tell you this: I've had it since the day it came out and I have not touched my Macbook or iPad Mini since.  It's a great consumption/creative device and really is the best accessory for a serious Holiday Netflix Bender.

Lap Log: I know I'm falling asleep when my arms collapse and my Kindle or iPad come crashing down on my face.  Enter the Lap Log, the simplest solution I've seen for comfortably holding your media/reading device in bed.  It's a great gift and comes in numerous colors/patterns and great packaging.







        Apple Watch: I've had Samsung, Motorolo and Asus smart watches.  The Apple Watch blows all these away.  I love the complications; I can take one quick glance at my watch, know the time of my next calendar appointment, the outside temperature, real time stock quotes, the date and most importantly, it tells great time.  The physical watch is also easily customizable; you can swap bands to completely change the look in under 10 seconds.  I can honestly say I don't like leaving the house without my Apple Watch.





             

               Amazon Echo: Meet Alexa, our family's new personal assistant. "Alexa, add eggs to the shopping list."  Alexa makes our family shopping list, sets our cooking timer, answers random questions and plays music on a great speaker.  This is really the start of the smart home, but I would keep it just for the family grocery list -it syncs with the Amazon Echo App.

Amazon Fire Stick: The Amazon Fire Stick is something to throw in your briefcase and is the best traveling companion for a business trip or vacation.  It's the only streaming stick that can access the hotel's wifi and it comes with a remote.  For your home, stick with the Roku 4, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.

Patagonia Black Hole Duffle 60L: I love Patagonia and the Black Hole Duffle 60L bag is a great weekend bag for a quick weekend trip - especially an outdoors adventure.  It fits nicely in the overhead bin and can be worn as a backpack.

Bose QC 25: Sorry men, if you're over 40 you really should not be caught dead with Beats.  The Bose QC 25 are really the best noise cancelling headphones you can buy; they are lightweight and have a great, compact carrying case.  On a plane, in bed, or at the office, crank some Spotify or Netflix and check out.

The Trianium 3100 mAh battery case for the iPhone 6 is the top selling battery charger case on Amazon.  I keep this in my briefcase and use it on long travel days, outdoor outings or days filled with outside meetings.  This is great for kids; they love to use the excuse, "but my battery was dead" - no more!  This case is also half the price of a Mophie.

               

                Dead Wake: Everyone knows the story of The Titanic, but what about the Lusitania?  I really had no clue about its history and the pivotal role this ship played in the formative years of World War I.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book and love Erik Larson.  If you like this book, check out his other book, "Devil in the White City."

Adidas Pure Boost 2.0: The Adidas Pure Boost 2.0 shoes are the most comfortable shoes I own.  I remember when a friend walked into my office; I said "those look like the most comfortable shoes."  After a five minute sales pitch from my fashion savvy friend, I was sold.  They have great grip, are light as a feather and have an awesome squishy landing.

Lockstate Digital Lock: The Lockstate LS-DB500-SN replaced all my deadlocks and our household is now keyless.  Kids, family members, neighbors feeding the cats, and me always misplacing my keys - this simple, digital keylock is the solution.

Bug-A-Salt 2.0:   I have an arsenal of fly killing weaponry - the traditional fly swatter, the electric tennis racquet, but nothing is more fun than the Bug-A-Salt 2.0.  Load the top with salt and unleash your inner Sniper.  You will be hoping for a fly infestation just so you can go to battle.

Hastens Anatomical Pillow: Pillows are so personal so I can't guarantee this is for everyone.  For me, the Hastens Anatomical Pillow is awesome because I can't afford their beds :).  The pillow has two, down tubes on either side of the pillow providing neck support and a crevice for your head.  I originally bought this for my wife, but I enjoyed it so much I had to re-possess.

S'well Water Bottle: 8:00AM Saturday add ice and water - 8:00AM Sunday,  ice still has not melted and the water is still cold.  This thing is unbelievable!  Water stays cold for 24 hours and hot liquids stay hot for 12 hours.  The S'well 25oz bottle is glued to my hip all day.

UE Boom 2 Bluetooth Speaker: The UE Boom 2 is the best compact, portable blue tooth speaker on the market.  360 sound, waterproof and sand proof.  We love taking this speaker to the beach or throwing it in the beach cruiser.  Great sound, cool colors and great packaging all make for a great gift.

Jack Black Turbo Wash: The world's best body wash: Jack Black Turbo Wash Energizing Cleanser with Rosemary, Eucalyptus & Juniper.  Once you start showering with this you'll never look back; it's not cheap, but it's well worth it.

AG Jeans "The Graduate": It's so hard to find the perfect pair of jeans.  For me, they're either too tight (especially in some areas) or too loose.  AG Jeans, specifically "The Graduate" cut is the solution- comfortable, great fit with numerous colors and fades.