Tech Stuff Tuesday * Robot Home Gadgets (Ok, They're Not Really Robots But Robots Are Cool)

Chicken with its head cut off. That's me most days. Or at least what I resemble. I'm usually running from one thing to another.  Cooking dinner.  Picking up a kid from something (although The Hubbs takes care of most of that). Yoga class. Another inane conference call. Some errand half way across town. Or roasting fifteen pounds of lamb hearts for dog food (which at least that makes the house smell like Christmas). 

But I'm also a gal that thrives on efficiencies. I hate retracing steps or taking the long way to get something done. I want the short cut that saves me twenty minutes overall, so I can take that twenty minutes Friday evening to read my People Magazine (hey, we all have our guilty pleasures).
I got an email a few days ago from a blog of sorts that I follow by the name of PureWow. They offer all kinds of helpful hints and this particular email had a bunch (my favorite number) of automated home devices to make life easier and more efficient. Let's just say they had me at hello with the first one.  
I can't say that I've tried them all. Or any of them. . . yet. But I wanted to share a few of them with you get feedback and see if anyone had one or any of these gadgets and if so, what you thought of them. You can leave your responses in the comments section below. Because it's sends them to me in an email. And I love email. It's kind of the highlight of my day. Unless the UPS man delivers something. But I digress. 

Crock-Pot® 6 Qt. Smart Slow Cooker WeMo® Enabled

This thing looks like the holy grail of crock-pots.  Let's say you put everything in the pot just before you run out the door to drop the kids off at school and head to work.  But you get to work and you realize you never turned the thing on.  Guess what.  You can turn this one on from your phone.  No joke.  Dinner is saved! It's a little pricey ($130) but if it saves you from another night of frozen pizza?  Worth it, I say.

August Smart Lock 
After you dumped everything into the crock-pot and headed out the door (forgetting to turn it on) you also left your keys to the house on the counter.  Dang kids asking questions about if there's a Ho-Ho in their lunch or not distracted you.  Never fear.  This locking system (it's a lock that retrofits to your deadbolt) will let you unlock the back door (or front door. Or side door. Or basement door.  You get the point.) by clicking within their app on your smartphone.  Which is apparently smarter than you are today, keyless loser (I say that with love).  And at $250, it's still cheaper than most locksmiths. 

GE Link Connected LED Bulb
Once you've gotten the crock-pot ordeal behind you, it dawns on you that you forgot to check behind Little Jimmy to make sure he turned off the light in his room.  Because he never does. This time Home Depot and GE are here to save him from the naughty corner with this awesome light bulb. Once again, you can turn it off and on from your smart phone using the Wink app.  Genius. And almost as brilliant as Thomas Edison himself. These bulbs ain't cheap (starting at $14.95).  But neither is the marriage counselor that you'll need to smooth out the argument over the electricity bill. 
Whew, what a day you had. Now who's the headless chicken? Finish up dinner and clean up the crock-pot, turn off Little Jimmy's lights after you tuck him in, lock the door with your smart lock and pour yourself a Wendy Callahan.  You deserve it.  And you're welcome.