ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Rechargeable Hand Warmer

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palm-sized colorful disc (apparently a rechargeable hand warmer) hangs from a wrist-sized silicone loop

This pretty little thing came up recently on one of my meanderings around Amazon, and I was intrigued: It is a rechargeable hand warmer! That little disc fits in the palm of your hand, and you can wear the silicone loop around your wrist if you want.

There are, of course, a zillion other ways to keep your hands warm, but this one is so pretty, and I think would make a great gift for someone who is always cold. It's often priced under $20, too, so it could be an easy stocking stuffer or other small gift if you have a monetary limit or just want to give a token physical gift alongside a gift card. (Such as for your assistant!)

The little device comes in five pretty patterns; this one is “polygon.”

Sales of note for 12.5

118 Comments

  1. I’m in house at a F50. I have a lunch meeting coming up with the head of my division and it’s meant to be a development opportunity of sorts for me. What is one supposed to talk about at this sort of thing? I will be pushing for a promotion in the next couple of years and plan to be with this company for a long time, if that matters.

    1. I’d speak to your manager and put together a plan for your promotion first – what deliverables do you need, whose support do you have to have it?

      Then I’d speak with the director about that – I’m working with my manager to be up for y promotion on X timeline. Here are the deliverables that show that I am a strong leader for this role. Any thoughts on how to strengthen that? Similarly, working with A, B, C people to support my promo. Any one else I should connect with?

      1. + to having a plan going into lunch. But if you want the head of the division to feel impressed with you, let them talk about themselves – ask probing questions like “how did you get to this point in your career?” That always works, especially if it’s a guy.

        1. Agreed, let them talk about their career. Also, do you know what you want to do next? Is the promotion more individual contributor or going into management/leadership? Mention where you want to go. You’re not doing a hard sell, just getting your name out there. Leaders love helping people who know where they want to go, but aren’t necessarily helpful if you don’t know what you want.

  2. I’m trying to plan a fun activity for about 8-10 coworkers (all female) in Las Vegas after our conference ends for the day (so about 5:30 p.m. or later). Any suggestions other than a typical dinner? I’d love some sort of experience. I have access to a suite (last year we brought in a private chef and did some poker tables.)

    2. I keep recommending this, but I loved the Paranormal mind-reading show at the Horseshoe. The venue is tiny so your group would be a good part of the crowd and I guarantee several of you would be part of the show.

    3. Magician’s Study for magic

      If you can make it by sunset, do sunset drinks. Alle Lounge at Resorts World or something of the like.

      Happy Half Hour on the High Roller

      The Sphere Experience at MSG Sphere

    4. We did blow outs at drybar the morning of Day 1 of the conference. It was actually an event my firm hosted and invited women at client firms, as opposed to another dinner and another round of drinks. We’ve had RAVE reviews from it. We brought in some pastries and coffee, etc. Huge hit and we’ll do it again next year. It’s in the Cosmo, I believe. Our conference was based in Aria.

      1. ah sorry totally missed the time you’re trying to book this for (after conference) – but a good idea nontheless!

    5. I guess it’s a know your audience kind of thing? I would not appreciate any sort of magic acts, but would love a Rat Pack history tour, a proper cocktail making class, an omakase sushi dinner, a costume sale (if any of the shows sell off fun costumes) – something to do with Vegas that’s not gambling.

    6. Thank you so much guys for the great recommendations. A lot of ideas here no one had thought of before.

  3. I’ve decided I want nice soft-sided luggage for Christmas. My criteria:
    – I’m willing to pay Tumi prices but would prefer a little less.
    – I would also prefer somewhat of a unique color than Tumi offers (even if khaki, maroon, or something like that).
    – I need a carry-on size plus a bag for under the seat, and would like the bag to be on the bigger side and to fit onto the carry-on’s handle.

    Any suggestions? I really want this to be the last luggage I ever buy!

    1. I absolutely love my Tumi luggage. Mine is a steel grayish color and it stands out from the sea of black. Have had it for about 5 years now with travel about once a month (carryon used each time but large suitcase probably used 3-4 times a year). Ironically, my Christmas list this year is luggage even though mine still looks great. Colleagues keep scaring me with bed bugs stories and I’m thinking I better switch to hard-sided to be safer. Just something to think about if you’re wavering at all.

      1. + my Tumi hard sided is easy to spot in its taupey brown color. I rarely check it but sometimes I’m on one of those CRJs where they throw it in the trunk and I pick it up when we land. I can spot it immediately. Non-black is the best.

      1. +1, sturdy and light. I prefer the old school rollaboard wheels to the spinners since at least half their rolling life is over bumpy sidewalks that those spinner wheels just cannot handle.

        1. +1 to Travelpro, and + 1 to two-wheeled rollaboards instead of four-wheeled spinners, but I suggest the FlightCrew 5 line, sold only in online stores that cater to professional pilots and cabin crew. VERY sturdy, very presentable, and very affordable. The only issue for you is that I believe it only comes in black, but you could take measures to make your bag distinguishable, like with a brightly-colored luggage tag or yarn on the handle.

    3. If you want this to be the last bag you ever buy, buy a Briggs and Riley, because they have a full, no questions asked, no exceptions, complete lifetime warranty. I love my carry-on from them. It’s expandable, has gone all over the world, has a mesh outer stowable pocket that you can shove a jacket or food purchases in, to keep your hands free in the airport. It’s legit the best.

      2. Yes, Briggs and Riley is what you’re looking for here. I’m 42 and have traveled all over the world with the set my parents got me when I was in college. Last year, I sent them in and had hardware and zippers replaced and paid nothing other than shipping, and I anticipate getting another 20 years out of them now.

      3. I absolutely love my Briggs and Riley! Lifetime warranty. The blue colour with silver hardware is gorgeous. Slightly cheaper than Tumi. The designs are really well thought out.

  4. Have I been going on dates with health nuts or am I out of touch?

    I’m in my late 20s, dating in NYC. I go to the gym regularly, but I do drink caffeine, alcohol on weekends etc

    I’ve recently gone on multiple dates with guys who don’t drink caffeine/alcohol, are on restrictive diets of some type (not related to a medical condition and more than just being vegan), and go to sleep pretty early lol

    I’ve seen the Instagram jokes about “in my 30s I don’t want to go out and prefer to stay in and watch Netflix” but didn’t think it was this widespread. My view is definitely influenced by my parents and their friends, who stay up late talking and have parties at all ages.

    To be clear I’m absolutely not telling anyone to change or even considering this a dealbreaker. I’m also not talking about crazy partying. I just want to be able to go to restaurants and have a glass of wine with whoever I’m dating.

    1. I would say that there is more focus these days on alcohol’s status as a carcinogen and on the importance of sleep. I never used to hear people talking about the former and now I do somewhat often.

    2. I’m far too old and my kids far too young to be able to speak with much credibility but i really think this is a blip. most people drink caffeine and alcohol.

      1. +1. I’m 40, but I don’t personally know anyone who has dietary restrictions like that. I do, however, prefer to go to bed early (and always have).

    3. Are you hanging out with a lot of triathletes or crossfitters? If so, yeah, they tend attract people (in addition to plenty of fairly normal people) who do long workouts in order to indulge to a point that can be problematic and those who do long workouts as a reason not to indulge that can veer toward disordered eating.

    4. I’m confused as to why you can’t go to a restaurant and have a glass of wine with whoever you’re dating…I mean, do these guys expect you to change what you eat/drink for them?

      1. I just feel awkward drinking when they’re not – especially if it’s right after them saying they’re not drinking because it’s healthier or something.

        These are not cross fitters or something like that! Honestly I’m not even sure all of them are heavy gym goers.

        1. yes try to sus out if they want the same in a partner, if not, that is awesome! maybe I’m just salty from having the same fight with DH about drinking too much for the last 10 years. I feel like women can handle alcohol better than men,

    5. Before I met my spouse I went on a string of dates with guys who were all GF (not due to allergies/celiac) and self-described “savory not sweet” people. I was so relieved when my husband told me he loved peanut butter and chocolate in combination and could actually not believe that anyone didn’t. All that to say, I think sometimes there are just weird coincidences like this. I bet all these guys are listening to Huberman Lab podcast.

      1. BINGO. Do they all take cold showers and spend the first twenty minutes of the day staring at the sun?

        1. The staring at the sun/no sunglasses “movement” is wild to me. I’m sure cataract surgeons already make good money, but in 20 years they’re gonna be rolling in it.

        1. I’m 32 and I think there’s a certain chunk of finance/tech bros who are like this – and probably they /are/ heavily concentrated in NYC – but definitely not everyone, I think you’ve just gotten a weird streak

          For me, the go/no-go criteria isn’t whether they meditate at dawn in a pool of yakbutter coffee – it’s how much time they spend talking about it (especially on early dates!). “Hey, want to get a beer somewhere Friday night” –> “I actually keep really early hours, could we meet up Saturday around noon instead?” is fine; 30 minute discersion into the minutiae of All His Optimizations is not

    6. I’m picturing a guy who is trying to optimize his lifestyle in hopes of being ultra efficient like [insert male CEO here]. Do they wear a Patagonia vest with khakis?
      Idk, I’m 29 and me and all of my friends sound like you.

    8. have these guys mentioned the Huberman podcast? i feel like that’s a subset of many educated/Type A guys right now

      1. That’s so interesting! I just heard about it last night (yep, from a 30s guy) and had no idea this was a Thing.

    9. If you don’t like the guys then by all means don’t go out with them. But I would probably be open to a first date if he seems nice otherwise. Just because he doesn’t drink and tries to go to bed early doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t go out occasionally. I find a lot of those guys treat their super restrictive diets as aspirational, not set in stone. I’ll never forget the lifting bro who “doesn’t drink” but really that means he only drinks tequila straight up. Not shots though because he’s an Adult. It’s also nice to have some variety in first dates; I get so tired of meeting for a drink, I’d welcome the opportunity to have a breakfast date or take a walk or something instead.

      1. That’s hilarious about the tequila bro. I’m definitely giving these guys a chance – I’m also realizing I’m not at all a person who really wants a night in. Obviously I could always go out with friends but it’s a real consideration.

    10. I think you’ve somehow ended up going out with health nuts. I am very active and so are many of my friends (multiple marathoners and triathletes in our group) and we all drink alcohol / drink caffeine / stay up late / eat “normal” diets. I regularly stay up late drinking wine with my friends and then meet them for a run the next day! Or, we go for a run and then follow it up with a beer.

      My parents and their friends also host parties with their friends, so I also grew up thinking that level of socializing (and social drinking) was normal.

    11. I wonder if these guys are really into Andrew Huberman (who has a very popular health-related podcast), or someone in that vein?

      1. The latest guy did he say he listens to a lot of podcasts, guess I’ll have to ask which ones specifically.

    12. I know a lot of people who don’t or rarely drink alcohol and go to sleep early. However, most people I know are 35-50 years old and have young children, so a totally different stage of life.

    13. Someone once told me that the passion or pickiness with which a person eats food parallels the passions or pickiness with which he participates in garden parties. True, in my experience. FWIW.

      1. Not the clever comment you think you made. (Way to judge someone with a GI issue or diabetes?)

        1. I understand where you’re coming from but if you add in the (clearly to me) intended caveat of “pickiness when you don’t have to for medical reasons,” you can save yourself a lot of outrage. And, yes, obviously like all oversimplified rules, there are plenty of exceptions.

    14. My son and his good friend don’t drink alcohol. They are both in their 20s. They wouldn’t care if you did though.

  5. As part of visiting colleges with my high school-age daughter, I’m going to go back to my college that I have not been to for over 20 years and I’m going to hopefully see a couple of professors who helped me with recommendations for law school. While I did not have the best college experience, I am grateful for my career, which has provided me a good living (although I mainly attribute that success to my grad school), and would like to say “thank you.” What would be an appropriate way to “give back” to these professors who are very senior now (one is now emeritus)? Should I offer to donate to a program (I give regularly to the school, but in the 3 to very low 4 figures per year)? Would a bottle of wine or something like that be more appropriate? I have not kept in touch at all and never had any desire to visit before now, so I don’t even think these professors will even remember me. I don’t want to make things awkward for the professor (or my daughter).

    3. Tell them how you feel if you’re lucky enough to see them. No gift other than your words are required or even appropriate here. If you don’t see them, send them a note.

    4. Just a nice conversation and a note to follow up if you are so inclined. I think any physical object or offers to donate will be awkward, especially since you haven’t kept in touch.

    5. what’s your goal in making contact? It’s going to look like you’re only reaching out now since you want something (i.e., admission for your daughter) – if it’s truly a desire just to say thank you, send them a note or email next year after she’s admitted (or not).

      1. Right, especially a gift. A material gift from the parents of a potential applicant would put the profs into an awkward situation where they either have to refuse it or report it.

      2. This! If you give them any kind of gift, it will seem like you’re trying to buy goodwill for your daughter (even though most people understand that a small gift to a random professor isn’t going to impact admission odds). A note is less weird, but still awkward and might seem like you’re connecting just because you want their help. Just say something kind if you happen to run into them. If not, you can send a note next year when your daughter’s admissions process is over.

    6. No don’t do this. Why would you give them a gift after not staying in touch for 20 years? If you really wanna see them, just preface it with “I’m sure you don’t remember me” so you don’t put them on the spot. Then thank them for the impact they had on you.

      1. Yeah, as someone who also hasn’t kept in touch with any college professors and is 20+ years out (who also did not have a good college experience), I would not give a gift. I’d provide an anecdote or two if I had one, and otherwise express my appreciation and graittude.

    7. I’m a professor, though not old enough for my former students to have kids applying to college and at the kind of big state school where professors are definitely not involved in admissions decisions. I love hearing from old students, but even though I have no power over admissions, I think I’d be pretty uncomfortable if I only heard from a former student when their kid was applying to school and they brought up giving money to the department in that context. If you want to give money to the department, keep your daughter out of it and don’t mention it to the professors (or wait until she’s been admitted somewhere). Every place I’ve ever worked has links all over their web page about how to give money and there’s probably a way that you can give in their honor if you really want to (if you’re talking about a significant amount of money you could give an annual award in their name, for example). You could also email the professors and thank them for their help years ago and offer to take them out to lunch or coffee with you and your daughter while visiting. They might be too busy, or otherwise decline, but I don’t think it would be inappropriate to ask.

    8. My dad recently retired after nearly 30 years teaching at a university. A card, letter, email – that’s what will matter the most to them. No give, no donation – especially as people near late career, hearing that they positively impacted your life has a ton of impact.

    9. Swing by offices, say hi, thank them, and offer to be a resource for current students.

    10. This feels weird. Feel free to write a card if you want to express your gratitude but don’t give a gift and don’t tie it to your daughter at all. If you didn’t keep in touch at all / never wanted to visit your alma mater then it’s a little odd to appear out of the blue like this.

    11. I don’t think it’s weird to say thank you. As the others mentioned, just send an email/physical card to the school now, without mentioning your daughter. If you really want to see them in person, you could mention you’re visiting campus for the first time since graduation and would be happy to drop by if they are in office. Educators put so much into their work, I think it’s lovely to show them that they mattered to you.

    12. Send them a thank you email now describing how they helped you and then offer to take them to lunch/ for coffee when you’re on campus.

  6. I need a new carry-on bag that will fit under the seat and am considering the Lo & Sons Catalina Deluxe Tote in the poly material. I believe I have seen it mentioned in the comments here. If you have it, what do you think of it? I am wondering if the straps are comfortable and whether it fits underneath the seat when completely full.

    1. I have this bag and I like it overall. This bag fits under the seat but ONLY if you don’t have anything in the bottom zippered section – if you do, then it will be too tall & won’t fit. I love that it has a trolley sleeve so I can just pop it onto my carryon and move around. I find the main straps to be ok for carrying but it also comes with a longer shoulder strap that is padded, I just don’t use it because I use the trolley sleeve. The poly material can be a bit stiff/not soft but it feels durable. I took a bunch of flights this year taking care of my mom and it traveled extremely well.

    2. Victorinox signature tote. It’s the successor to their Divine tote, which is the holy grail. Ebags often has 30% off. It’s worth it. So many perfect, thoughtful pockets. I love mine.

  7. Is it my imagination or is the Christmas creep this year even worse than normal? Half my block put up outside decorations this weekend. Stores are covered with Christmas stuff (normal) and advertising their early Black Friday sales (maybe less normal)?

    1. I cringe anytime I see Xmas decorations up before Thanksgiving, especially weeks before. It just takes away from the excitement of the actual Xmas season.

      1. I was in a couple little boutiques that usually have cutesy candles, stationary, nice self care stuff, some decorations – and literally everything was Christmas themed. A few Hannukah things. But usually these stores have a mix of things and aren’t super seasonal, except now they’ve been taken over by Christmas already

    2. If your neighbors are Hindu they may have put up holiday lights for Diwali which was yesterday

    3. where I live shopping centers had outdoor christmas decorations up before Halloween, which I thought was ridiculous. i feel like it’s hard to actually enjoy the moment. i also didn’t want to see Halloween stuff during back to school in August.

    4. Thanksgiving is early this year. If you want lights up before everyone comes, its either this weekend or next. At least where I live, whichever weekend has good weather in November is fair game for outside decorations.

      1. But why do you want lights up before everyone comes for thanksgiving?!
        I’m not trying to be snarky, just sincerely curious because I don’t get the impulse. I appreciate that this is something some people do though so I’d love to know the rationale for it.

        1. Speaking for myself here, because the darkness at 5 pm is just depressing.

    5. My commute is currently full of leftover Halloween lawn decorations rubbing elbows with very obviously Christmas decor and I love the utter chaos of it all.

      1. Someone in my neighborhood has one of those giant skeletons in their lawn and they have put a pilgrim outfit on it for Thanksgiving. I’m here for it. I hope it stays up and gets a santa outfit for christmas.

        1. Hah! On my street, the skeletons are wearing Santa clothes, bypassing the pilgrims.

    6. Yes! I know it comes earlier and earlier every year, but so many stores have gone so hard on Christmas so fast, I had several moments of “Is there something different about this year’s Christmas that I am unaware of?”

    7. I’m Canadian and Christmas stuff going up now is complety normal, especially the outside stuff. We have thanksgiving in early October and for most of those that celebrate Christmas, there is nothing between Remembrance Day and Christmas.

    8. All the bloggers compete with each other to get their Christmas gift guides up as early as possible so shoppers use their affiliate links.

    11. I don’t really visit malls, but my emails are full of holiday gift ideas. My son’s birthday is 11/25 so by mutual agreement we don’t do any xmas stuff before then, which has actually been great. We have some Thanksgiving decor the kids enjoy putting up (taking it down is another story.)

      1. I don’t mind gift idea lists in november, because it’s nice to be able to make a plan in time to scope the sales for things I’m looking for. I do hate decorations and music being around this early though. I prefer my christmas season to start on December 1st. I put up my decorations that day and start my advent calendar.

    12. I don’t understand getting upset about seeing other people’s Christmas decorations “too early.” What does it matter to you that somebody else is putting up decorations or not? It just seems like one of the things society has collectively deemed as cool to whine about, like not liking the word moist, but that isn’t actually bad at all.

      1. In my neighborhood we go from Halloween to Diwali to Christmas decorations. And I am here for it! I do not like winter or short days or standard time. Seeing the lights and decorations is among the few things bringing me joy. If I could I would normalize over the top decorating for Valentine’s Day.

      2. I mean in the grand scheme of things and the world being on fire, I don’t think anyone actually cares. But if I somehow had my druthers, people would have to wait for one big holiday to be over before decorating for the next big holiday.

        Also — and I appreciate that this is a me issue and probably not something most type A people here can relate to — but I hate how everything being out early in October and November means that I can’t actually find anything I need like a random holiday tablecloth by the time December finally rolls around … unless I want a Valentine’s Day or Easter one, I guess.

      3. Yeah I love it personally. If people waited until after thanksgiving they’d only be up for a month. Bring it on, lights and decorations are pretty.

    13. I feel like Christmas lights are fair game after the time change. Once it’s dark out at 5 pm, I’m not going to complain if people want to put up lights. I’m not religious and as far as I’m concerned, the winter holidays are all just a bunch of excuses to light up the cold and dark and celebrate with food, friends, and family.

    14. I went to Big Lots yesterday and the Christmas radio was on full blast. It was not fun.

      1. Ugh working in retail RUINED most holiday music for me. The world doesn’t need another pop holiday album. There are enough.

    15. It’s a tad jarring but at the same time, I was feeling down and blah after taking down my Halloween decor and am seriously considering putting up a few little Christmas things even before Thanksgiving. I don’t have local family and typically don’t travel for a big warm house full of people holiday and enjoying a cosy house with bright, pretty decor really goes a long way in making crap winter days feel good.

      My stance is that rather than “oh, Christmas is coming too early and lasting too long” I wish there were more generic winter decor that felt as festive, pretty, and cosy as Christmas!

  8. I received this as a stocking stuffer last year, and it is just dumb. Pointless consumerism, another plastic object to go in the landfill and last a thousand years. Please don’t buy this.

      1. And the vast majority of clothing items. People here don’t like the P word talked about when it comes to fabric content, but future archaeologists aren’t going to just find remnants of our clothing.

  9. Does your law firm have any rules about writing off associate/of counsel time? My firm allows partners to write off unlimited hours/dollars for anyone other than another partner. We have several associates meeting their hours but the billed amount doesn’t even cover the base salary. Some partners see this as an issue, others don’t. I was brought up to believe associates should make money/be profit centers eventually – and I am not sure if this is normal.

    1. We do. Our rule is the opposite – equity partners can only write off 20% of non-equity-partners’ time on bills (if you want to write off more it’s supposed to go to the managing partners). TBH I’m not sure how much attention the other equity partners pay to this rule but since I was made aware of it I stick to the 20% or less.

      It becomes an issue when the partner is writing off everyone else’s time but their own – then the associates look really unprofitable while the partner stays looking very profitable.

    2. Yes my firm has rules about this, though sometimes it seems like the rules only apply to some of us. When I was an associate I confronted a partner about charging only 60% of my time and they acted like it was some weird accounting error that would get corrected right away! It was not and it did not. As a partner, I proposed a rule that a partner cannot bill another partner at lower than their standard rate without their permission, and I was told that was already the rule. If it’s a rule it’s not written anywhere or enforced. I have confronted other partners for billing me out lower than my standard rate. Unfortunately by the time I know, I’ve already accepted the representation and it’s hard to get out. This is after I have told them what my rate is and they said ok, and their engagement letter lists my correct rate (I insist on seeing the EL if I haven’t worked with the person before, I’ve been burned too many times, not just on this but on conflicts/matter opening issues too). I also sometimes have problems with people not charging my increased rate with the firm’s annual increases.

      Realization rate is taken into account for associate raise/bonus purposes. My firm does at least allow associates to see it. My last firm did not, even though it was still considered in determining your compensation.

    3. We don’t have any “rules” but the firm keeps track of the amount of time each attorney writes off, and if your write offs get too high, we are called to explain them. I had an associate who was struggling, and as a result had very high write offs. It ultimately impacted her salary and led to questions about what I was doing to manage her performance. That’s not the norm through – the general expectation is that associate time is good time. Also, I suspect this is a practice area-dependent question.

  10. Looking for gift ideas for a new runner. Lives in California so does not get too cold. $50 budget.

    1. Noxgear
      Feetures or Balega socks
      Daniel’s Running Formula (book)
      Tech shirts from Brooks or New Balance
      Skratch fuel sample pack ($10)
      Handheld water bottle (Nathan)
      Koala clip for her phone
      Sweat-proof sunscreen
      Goodr or Tifosi sunglasses

    3. I am a California runner! My suggestions:
      – safety vest
      – lights
      – those Head gloves from Costco

      1. Recently new runner.
        LOVE Head gloves (and wear them when it gets around 50*)
        Goodr sunglasses also great.
        I prefer icebreaker or bombas socks.

  11. Anyone have experience with patellofemoral pain?
    I have been a dancer all my life and have had previous episodes of knee pain which eventually improved with yoga and some conditioning. Recently, I heard my knee click each time I descended a step walking downstairs. Clicking and popping sounds seem to be my previous patellofemoral syndrome raising its head and I’m worried about having to have surgery. Worst nightmare would be not being able to dance or run.
    While I wait for the appointment with my previous sports medicine physician, any tips on what I can do on my own? Trying to not ask Dr. Google and not worry too much about the possible outcomes here.

    1. I had patellar tendonitis with pain in college. I would tape my patella more to the outside to realign it with KT-tape or athletic tape, and do soft tissue before and after activities. This worked. I played a sport that used the outer front shin muscle a lot (eggbeater in water polo) and so that was causing my knee to be imbalanced. Hope this helps, but go see a PT!

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