## I Spent $100 on the Weirdest Things on Amazon—Here’s What I Got
We’ve all been there. Scrolling through Amazon, lured by the siren song of “deals” and “you might also like,” until we find ourselves in a rabbit hole of bizarre and inexplicable products. This time, I decided to embrace the weird. I challenged myself: spend $100 on the strangest, most unusual items I could find, and document the results. Buckle up, because this journey into the depths of Amazon’s oddities is wilder than you might think.
### The “What Even Is This?” Category:
My first stop was the land of the inexplicably popular. For $12.99, I bought a self-stirring mug. The concept is simple enough: a battery-powered base spins a little whisk inside, effortlessly mixing your coffee or hot chocolate. The reality? It’s slightly terrifying. The constant whirring is unnerving, and the mixing action, while efficient, leaves a persistent, slightly unsettling vortex in my beverage. Verdict: mildly useful, mostly unsettling.
Next up, the avocado slicer. At $9.99, I figured it couldn’t hurt. This little contraption, shaped vaguely like a weird praying mantis, promised perfectly sliced avocados in seconds. It largely delivered on its promise, although it requires a surprising amount of force, and I did manage to slightly injure my thumb in the process. Verdict: Functional, but slightly dangerous. Stick with a knife unless you’re feeling adventurous (and possibly a little masochistic).
### The “I’ll Never Use This, But I Had To” Category:
This section was all about impulse buys and questionable decisions. First, a banana holder. Yes, you read that right. A $7.99 holder, shaped like a tiny, slightly unsettling banana, for your bananas. It’s purely decorative, adds nothing practical to my life, and yet, it sits proudly on my countertop. I don’t regret it. Verdict: Utter nonsense, and I love it.
Then came the bacon-flavored lip balm. For $6.49, I justified this purchase with the reasoning that “everyone needs bacon-flavored lip balm.” I was wrong. It smells faintly of burnt bacon, leaves a slightly greasy film on my lips, and attracts curious glances. Verdict: A resounding “no.” Stick to regular lip balm, folks.
### The “Actually Kind of Useful?” Category:
Amidst the chaos, a few gems emerged. A mini handheld fan ($14.99) proved surprisingly effective during a recent heatwave. It’s small, lightweight, and powerful enough to provide some much-needed relief. This was a pleasant surprise; I expected it to be a flimsy piece of plastic, but it exceeded my expectations. Verdict: A worthwhile purchase.
Finally, a silicone ice cube tray with lids ($11.99). These weren’t particularly weird, but they were a definite upgrade from my old, flimsy ice cube trays. The lids prevent freezer burn and make storing the ice cubes much easier. This was a practical purchase disguised amidst the strange. Verdict: A solid five stars.
### The “I Have No Explanation” Category:
The pièce de résistance: a glow-in-the-dark, rubber chicken. For $19.99, this avian oddity now occupies a prominent place on my bookshelf. It glows faintly in the dark, and I have no idea why I bought it. It serves no practical purpose, adds nothing to my life, and yet, I find myself inexplicably fond of it. Verdict: A testament to the sheer absurdity of Amazon’s vast catalog.
### Conclusion:
My $100 experiment in Amazon weirdness yielded a mixed bag of results. Some purchases were utter failures (bacon-flavored lip balm, I’m looking at you), while others proved surprisingly useful (the mini fan was a lifesaver). But the true value lies in the sheer entertainment. The self-stirring mug’s unsettling vortex, the banana holder’s bizarre charm, and the inexplicable appeal of a glow-in-the-dark rubber chicken – these are the things that make this experiment memorable. So, next time you find yourself lost in the endless scroll of Amazon, embrace the weird. You might just surprise yourself. Just maybe skip the bacon-flavored lip balm. You’ll thank me later.