Here we go again! It’s Operation Beautiful’s ‘spring season.’ Every October and February, I do a slew of speaking events (timed roughly around Fat Talk Free Week in the fall and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week in the spring).  Today kicks off a five event series – I’m now in Indiana.

 

And this means my today has thus far consisted of:  an early wake-up call, a pat-down by TSA, a sleepy dash to make my connecting flight, a (wrongly) declined credit card, and a really ugly rental car.  Hoorah!  Airport food included this Naked shake (which is pretty tasty but very chalky), carrots, and a sunflower butter sandwich.

IMG_7017 IMG_7019

Do you know what time it is? 

 

Why, it’s time for Even More Best (and Worst) of Sky Mall!  Three cheers for Sky Mall!  My favorite game to play while traveling.  When I say ‘best’ of Sky Mall, I really mean, ‘best to giggle about.’

IMG_0517

Now, if you recall the game’s rules, items are selected based on three factors:

 

  • General uselessness
  • General ridiculousness
  • Price point

 

Up first, we have this beautiful beard cap.  It can be yours for $19.95.  If I saw someone wearing one of these things in real life, I would die.

IMG_0510

If beard caps aren’t your things, why don’t you try the Fleece Poncho with a Pillow.  I chose this one because 1) the name is ridiculous – what about Pilanket (pillow/blanket)? and 2) how many variations of the snuggie or snoogle or slanket can they possible create?

IMG_0509

Speaking of pillows, haven’t you always wanted a Food Pillow – you know, a throw pillow that looks like a giant pizza pie?  Or ice cream sandwich?  There’s also an unpictured sushi option! 

IMG_0511

Can we talk about doggie stairs?  I bought Maggie some doggie stairs a few years ago but she would just sit right next to them and beg to be carried onto the bed (she is not so bright).  I’m sure doggie stairs are highly useful for smarter pups, but these stairs are nearly THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  My MATTRESS was $300.

IMG_0513

And last – but not least – for the lazy man in your life, a Touchless Sensor Seat.  You know, so he doesn’t have to manually raise the toilet lid or spend 2 seconds putting it back down.  Although I think this would be cool and useful, it’s $159!  Maybe it would be worth it if it prevented marital strife, though.

IMG_0512

Do you love (to hate) Sky Mall as much as I do? Ever bought anything? Is your dog smart enough to use doggie stairs?

{ 75 comments }

 

  • Erin February 20, 2012, 12:19 pm

    My husband bought me Bra Balls from the Sky Mall once. They’re these stupid clamshell contraptions you put your bras in before putting them in the washing machine. Worst anniversary gift ever.

    As for dog stairs, we bought some for our dog once when she got too old to jump into the back of my car. She would have nothing to do with them.

  • Stephanie @ Legally Blinde February 20, 2012, 12:25 pm

    Hahaha, oh my gosh, these all cracked me up! That beard cap is SO strange!! And those food pillows are ridiculous. The things people come up with! Love this game 🙂 Safe travels!

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats February 20, 2012, 12:26 pm

    Oh gosh, I love looking through Sky Mall! Such amusing finds. Have fun in IN – you should stop by Chicago, way cooler! haha

  • Lindsay @ Running the Windy City February 20, 2012, 12:32 pm

    I love Skymall, it’s so ridiculous!

    My mom bought doggie stairs for her dog but she would never use them. I think they kind of freaked her out a bit. Oh well, at least they weren’t $300!!

  • Ashley Y February 20, 2012, 12:36 pm

    One of our 3 dogs, our male pug, never learned to jump all that well. We got tired of him waking us up all the time, so we decided when he got neutered to buy stairs for him. I don’t remember what we paid for them, but it definitely was no where near $300. He learned to use them right away and still uses them constantly, even though he has slightly improved his jumping skills since then. Our other pug, who is smaller, is fine with jumping and never uses them.

  • Rebecca February 20, 2012, 12:37 pm

    I’ve seen the beard cap online, but never on a real person.

    I used a poem I found in SkyMall once in a Psych project… A couple of people asked if I’d written it. Nope. I wish.

  • Avery @ YoungAspirations February 20, 2012, 12:39 pm

    Haha, I love the Skymall posts! I think having a food pillow on my couch would only increase my hunger boredom and cause me to eat pointless snacks when I watch tv. No thanks!

  • Hillary February 20, 2012, 12:42 pm

    I always wanted to buy those HUGE blow up bouncy-things that you put in the ocean—you know, for my imaginary beach house.

  • Lauren February 20, 2012, 12:45 pm

    My recent favorite was the yard fountain of the little boy peeing. Just what everyone needs to welcome guests to their house! 🙂 I think it was $100.

  • Alexandria February 20, 2012, 12:47 pm

    We like to play, “You’re hosting a party and it must be 100% supplied by SkyMall.”

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:44 pm

      That is an even BETTER game!!!!!!!

  • Jennifer February 20, 2012, 12:51 pm

    Skymall is awesome for using up time on a flight. I think I’ve marked things before but never ended up buying anything.

    I made a Hamburger pillow in 7th grad in home ec. Yeah, no more food pillows!

    My bed is too high, I would need like twice as many steps to reach from the floor to the top of the bed, and by then the steps would be out the door. My dog would just cry to be let up, too. I AM the steps LOL

  • Annette @ EnjoyYourHealthyLife February 20, 2012, 12:55 pm

    HAha. I saw that beard cap from an email from my bro-inlaw…..because he has a huge beard. Hah. Got a good laugh out of that one!

  • Joelle (On A Pink Typewriter) February 20, 2012, 12:57 pm

    Oh man, Sky Mall CRACKS me up. The most ridiculous items ever created.. sometimes I want to try and order something just to see if they’re for real.

  • Ann @ Turbo Teacher February 20, 2012, 1:02 pm

    Haha, I believe my husband and I had the discussion of whether or not Lilly would use the doggie stairs! Got to love Sky Mall!

  • Khushboo February 20, 2012, 1:03 pm

    Those pillows are ridiculous…I feel they would bring on a whole new level of midnight snacking!

  • Bonnie February 20, 2012, 1:23 pm

    So since you were patted down by TSA, I assume you didn’t go through the radiated death machines?

    As for the food pillows, I’m not gonna lie… I kind of really want a sushi pillow!

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:44 pm

      No way – not when pregnant. I go through them non-preggers but I just think that since it’s not necessary to go through them (they never mind when I ask for a pat down), it’s wiser to skip. They say it’s safe but… I dunno. They say a lot of things are safe. I know I’m getting dosed with radiation just by flying so if I can minimize my exposure to any type of radiation or xrays or backscattered whatever, it’s good.

  • Jamie February 20, 2012, 1:29 pm

    Do you have any suggestions for a highly constipated person? I don’t know what to do. I’ve been experiencing a lot of GI distress (IBS like , not fun) and was advised to reduce my veggies and fiber because that is triggering the cramping and stuff. BUT now I’m constipated.
    Any suggestions for an ultimate breakfast smoothie ? meals? snacks?
    The professional I consulted said if it was her she would eat a lot of toast with honey, poached eggs, baked salmon, applesauce, yogurt with jam and sugary fruits, toast and jam, etc and NOT focus on veggies and all that stuff that i always cling to..thoughts?

    • Kristie February 20, 2012, 2:54 pm

      How about you follow the advice of the professional who knows your specific case instead of asking someone who doesn’t know you online?

      • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:42 pm

        Hi Jamie:

        I’m really not qualified to answer that, but I would always follow the advice of a professional you are working with.

        Love,
        Caitlin

  • Laura February 20, 2012, 1:40 pm

    The beard/beanie is one of those things that would only be ok on a small child. Like animal hats.

    I need to get some stairs for our Chiweenie. She sits there and wiggles her butt because she is so excited but can’t make it on the bed. Sometimes she does push off her legs when I pick her up – that’s how I know she’s really excited because she wanted to help.

  • Amber K February 20, 2012, 1:54 pm

    I have never flown on an airplane with a Sky Mall magazine, but it sounds hilariously ridiculous.

  • Kim February 20, 2012, 1:58 pm

    Where are you at in Indiana? 🙂 I’m from Valparaiso, IN (about 30 mins from Chicago). 🙂 Have a great time!

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:41 pm

      I was in Lawrenceburg – so sorry, I just saw this!

  • TeenyLittleSuperChef February 20, 2012, 2:01 pm

    Oh wow, that beard snow cap is awesome! I’d probably pee my pants if I ever saw someone seriously wearing one. I love looking at the magazine on flights. As much as I hate to admit it, I actually have purchased something from the Sky Mall. It was a door mat that says “Welcome to of my parents house”. My dad is a huge map nerd and he absolutely loved it. The bummer of the deal is it was $50 and that was before shipping and handling! Oh well

  • Caitlin February 20, 2012, 2:09 pm

    I actually made doggie steps for my chihuahua, Lola, several years ago when we moved from a carpeted apartment into a hardwood floored house. (just some leftover wood, carpet scraps, a couple power tools, and a handy boyfriend) At first she wanted nothing to do with them but many hours and treats later we finally convinced her it was ok to use them. She’s now flying up and down them at lightening speed playing with her sister (Cardi a cat). I’m glad we were able to not spend a single penny on the steps, especially since I’ve seen them going for over $200 now, and that she took to the step in less than a week and now proudly shows off her petite stairs proudly.

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:41 pm

      You and your boyfriend are super handy, I’m impressed!

  • Erin Margaret February 20, 2012, 2:19 pm

    I bought some doggie stairs from Petsmart and my dog Button never used them. I left them on the porch for a few weeks, they got rained on, we were moving so I trashed them. Oh well. When we moved into our new place, I left a cardboard box by the end of our bed with one of her favorite blankets draped on top. She uses it every time now! Haha 🙂

  • Cecily February 20, 2012, 2:21 pm

    My dog IS smart enough to use doggie stairs! We actually have a ramp for her. She’s a dachshund, so I’m sure you know all about their back issues. We trained her by making her follow a treat up and down until she got the hang of it. 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:40 pm

      Hm maybe this would work if I lured her up with carrots.

  • Caroline February 20, 2012, 2:56 pm

    Haha I love this post! The beard cap is hilarious! I’ve never bought anything from sky mall and my dog (a toy poodle) still refuses to jump up on our bed on his own – he cried and waits for help. It’s so annoying because we’ve seen him jump up on his own before. I wonder if he would use stairs..

  • kathleen @ the daily crumb February 20, 2012, 2:59 pm

    oh my goodness that food pillow is totally ridiculous but slightly awesome! ha… love these posts!

  • Erin February 20, 2012, 3:00 pm

    Where are you speaking? I live in IN and would like to hear you, if at all possible, unless it’s something specials for a group or something. And it’s understandable if you can’t post that information. Just wondering.

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:39 pm

      Aw I’m so sorry! I just saw this 🙁 Too bad, I would’ve loved to meet you.

  • Elise February 20, 2012, 3:01 pm

    I’ve never experimented with true doggie stairs. But when I was babysitting my dog for my mom, I put my stepstool next to my bed because I was afraid it was so high she would have a hard time jumping up. She totally didn’t get it! She would just put her front paws on the bottom step and then look at me like “What do you want me to do with this?” A few days later I put a large rubbermaid-type bin near my bed as I was cleaning and she immediately started using it as a step onto my bed, haha!

  • Gina @ Running to the Kitchen February 20, 2012, 3:15 pm

    There are no words for these things…$300 for DOGGY STAIRS? Are they on crack?!

  • jen February 20, 2012, 3:35 pm

    I got a beard cap at a white elephant this christmas. i thought it was super cute and it made me look like a hipster. ;)i wouldn’t wear it out in general public but i did wear it when i was shoveling my car out.

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:39 pm

      Hahahah i love it. it is very hipster indeed.

  • Sneakers2sandals February 20, 2012, 3:40 pm

    I saw kids wearing those hats during Halloween 🙂

  • Susan February 20, 2012, 3:47 pm

    I actually think the blanket/pillow combo would be useful for airplanes. But that’s about it.

  • Michelle February 20, 2012, 3:59 pm

    My favorite sky mall item EVER is “doggles”. I crack up every time I see that little puppy in doggles, or even think about it, for that matter.

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:37 pm

      Are those goggles for dogs? LOL

  • Carin February 20, 2012, 4:08 pm

    You have GOT to buy the beard cap for the husband! Perfect!

    Although….. doesn’t having a beard keep your face warm anyway?

  • Deirdre @ Oh Well Whatever.com February 20, 2012, 4:35 pm

    LOVE the sky mall catalogs, they are the best. Enjoy your travels.

  • MigraineMe February 20, 2012, 4:43 pm

    I would love to see what the actual annual sales are for sky mall. I mean, there must be quite a few people who actually buy things because it’s been around for quite a while, but it has some of the silliest stuff!

  • Becca W. February 20, 2012, 5:30 pm

    Funny about the beard cap. My boyfriend got one from his brother for Christmas and he actually wears it running!! We live in Minnesota, so running in the winter can be extremely cold. I make fun of him for it, but I guess you do what you gotta do to keep warm!

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:37 pm

      That is a very good use for a beard cap!!!

  • Rebecca February 20, 2012, 5:50 pm

    I LOVE the mango naked smoothies!

  • Katie @ Soulshine and Sassafras February 20, 2012, 5:54 pm

    My friend has a beard cap, and I pretty much die every time he wears it.

  • Denise February 20, 2012, 5:57 pm

    Oh, my God! Now, I know why my husband is afraid to fly. It has nothing to do with crashing or terrorists, but he doesn’t want to have be subjected to the Sky Mall. LOL!

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) February 20, 2012, 6:59 pm

    I love sky mall. I always find about 20 things that I want, but I have never bought anything.

  • Angela @ Happy Fit Mama February 20, 2012, 7:13 pm

    They actually make the beard cap for kids, too. Would make a great Father’s Day present to get matching beards. 🙂

  • Tessa @ Amazing Asset February 20, 2012, 7:13 pm

    Hahahaha I love Sky Mall… so awesomely bad 🙂 It’s definitely one of the things i look forward to when flying

  • stefanie February 20, 2012, 7:24 pm

    Hilarious! I would rather a ‘food pillow’ designed for eating on (you know) than one that looks like food..

  • Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin February 20, 2012, 7:55 pm

    LOL! Those things are all so ridiculous! Except for the food pillows… I kind of like those. 😛

  • Amanda February 20, 2012, 7:57 pm

    For my our anniversary I actually made my boyfriend a beard hat just like that! I made it as a joke but he loves it and wears it all the time..I know, he’s a weirdo 😛

  • Heather February 20, 2012, 8:02 pm

    Ha! Thank you for this post…I have been super sick and this gave me a good laugh! Hope you traveling is safe and easy 🙂

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:36 pm

      Aw feel better 🙁

  • Tricia February 20, 2012, 8:29 pm

    I love the naked juice products! but agreed the protein ones are chalkie!

  • Debbie February 20, 2012, 8:39 pm

    My Doxie went down in the front about 3 years ago…thought it was a disc but turned out to be an autoimmune disease called GME. He was given 12 months. Well, he is my miracle boy, still around after zillions of dollars of meds but totally worth it! He never did use the stairs again. My husband made a ramp for the deck (maybe $20.00?). It took him about a week to figure it out, but he runs up and down like a champ! Dachshunds do know how to play their people!

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:34 pm

      You are so right. Dachshunds are the smartest dogs ever, I think. I am glad your boy is doing well!!!

  • Nikki February 20, 2012, 9:10 pm

    UMMMMM I totally bought a beard cap! But it was for a baby (who had a bearded daddy) and it was like $2 at the farmer’s market.

    • CaitlinHTP February 20, 2012, 9:34 pm

      Hahah AWESOME.

  • Andrea February 20, 2012, 9:16 pm

    Sooo my 18 year old brother definitely has that beardhat thingy…haha…

  • Sarahf February 21, 2012, 12:18 am

    That magazine is a hoot! I live in Japan and the sensor on the toilet seat is common here. They are usually heated and have a bidet option too! People are usually surprised when I take pictures of toilets, but I just can’t help myself.

  • Lisa February 21, 2012, 1:19 am

    LOL!!!!!!!! The BEARD CAP!!!!!!! I literally just stared at that picture for two minutes straight and laughed my booty off. 🙂

  • Jen February 21, 2012, 1:22 am

    I LOVE Sky Mall! Great for entertainment on the flight, if nothing else (although, I will admit, once or twice I have been TEMPTED). 🙂 Your “featured products” are hilarious!

  • Jen February 21, 2012, 11:19 am

    I was just on a flight yesterday, so I know that next to the beard cap is a picture of the creepiest skeletal garden gnomes ever! Sometimes SkyMall goes off the rails…

    http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=204092598&c=

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat February 21, 2012, 1:53 pm

    My dog uses her doggie stairs like a pro now! We had to teach her to walk up them the first few times because she didn’t get it and just wanted to be lifted into bed. Now she can get up there by herself and she even uses them to get out of bed too 🙂

  • Sarah Shep February 21, 2012, 1:56 pm

    I was at a bar last weekend in Richmond and a guy walked in wearing the beard cap. On a Saturday night. In a public establishment. True story.

    I’m hoping he lost a bet…

  • Kelly February 22, 2012, 4:30 am

    Omg! After reading one of your other Sky Mall posts I went and bought the wand tv remote! I can’t believe I bought it, it was almost $100 and I never use it. I only managed to program the volume controls but the rest of the functions don’t work that well. I should bust it out more often cause I feel totally cool practicing my wizardry! Lol

    • CaitlinHTP February 22, 2012, 7:18 am

      Best comment ever.

  • Julie February 22, 2012, 1:17 pm

    My husband found the best ever SkyMall magazine on a flight to L.A a few years ago. Someone had written ridiculous quote bubbles on the pictures and left it in the pocket. It is hilarious. We still have that magazine somewhere.

  • Laura February 22, 2012, 4:23 pm

    Oh my goodness, one of my students wore the beard beanie thing to school back in Decemeber. I almost peed my pants laughing at him. It’s not as strange if a high school student who is misunderstood does it I guess.

Previous post:

Next post:

Healthy Tipping Point