Coasters that light up as you get lit

Now that summer has arrived, you can give serious consideration to an outdoor item like Glowing Solar Coasters from Grandin Road, a stylish catalog-retailer based in Ohio. The coasters bear a self-descriptive name; they literally glow thanks in part to solar power. The silver coasters come in a pack of four, and each has a 4¼-inch diameter.

Advantages:

After being fully charged in direct sunlight, the coasters glow for six hours, according to Grandin Road. The plastic coasters cycle through different colors courtesy of high-efficiency LEDs — tiny semi-conductors that emit a vibrant light. That light shoots up through your glass, giving a flash of color and style to a drink otherwise as dull as tap water.

Limitations:

While the coasters apparently work well on ice water, they may not look as cool shining through the brown glass of a beer bottle. And the coasters, while solar powered, require a AAA battery to store energy. The battery, included with purchase, may last six months to two years. And both the lights in the coasters and the solar panel itself has a lifespan of four or more years, meaning these coasters won’t be passed through the generations.

Where:

By calling 866-668-5962 or online at grandinroad.com

Cost:

$49 plus shipping and handling