Mighty Goods: Products from November 2004

The Four Agreements

Buy this book. It’s remarkable in its simplicity and power. The Four Agreements puts forth a few very simple things you can do to let go of your limits and better your life. The Four Agreements are: 1. Be impeccable with your word. Words shape your world, your viewpoint, and your relationships.

Don’t make assumptions. There’s no sense in obsessing over events that may be figments of your imagination.
Don’t take things personally. People do things because of what’s going on with them.
Do your best. This helps you avoid self judgment. Just trying to live by these rules has rocked my life. I can’t recommend it highly enough, and I’ve forced it on many of my perfectly well-adjusted loved ones. Get one for yourself, and then one for everyone you adore. It’s small enough to fit in a stocking and brief enough to get through in a day. You will like it. (And Oprah likes it too.)

$10 at Amazon

Kirtsy This | Posted 30 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Printed Canvas Coat

ON SALE This coat reminds me of blowing bubbles as a kid. The print looks just like the pattern the popped bubbles used to leave on the cement, except in technicolor!

$63 at Boden

(Regularly $125)

Kirtsy This | Posted 30 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Plum Blossom Doormat

Shouldn’t there be a troupe of young virgins throwing petals at your feet as you go about your day? Until you can afford to hire one, this plum blossom welcome mat will have to do.

$35 at Gumps

(No longer available.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 30 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Dean and DeLuca Sugar Collection

Go all out for this year’s cookie-decorating party. These sugar crystals come in such brilliant, rich colors, you’ll want to eat them right out of the tin. (Don’t do that though, because then you’ll have colored-sugar mouth, and no one will want to use the sugar to decorate their cookies because they’ll know you licked the tins, which is totally gross.) A luxurious gift for bakers, or artists who need a good pallette for baking inspiration.

$35 at Dean and DeLuca

(Eight 7.2 oz tins.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 29 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

The Anti Panti

You can’t tolerate a panty line, but can’t stop adjusting your thong. If you’re among the thousands of women who think underwear doesn’t belong there, try the Anti Panti. It’s a little circle of soft fabric with a stick-on backing. You attach one to the inside of your pants and go commando. They come in a variety of colors, five to box. Freedom is yours.

$10 at Target

Kirtsy This | Posted 29 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Canvas and Leather Field Bag

Man purse! Admit it, sometimes you need a bag that’s just big enough for a magazine, your sunglasses, and cell phone. This straightforward field bag has room for your camera, a bottle of water, and whatever else you can’t fit in your pockets. It even has a pass-through pocket for your headphones. Trust me, it’s a thousand times sexier than those tired cargo pants.

$50 at National Geographic

Kirtsy This | Posted 29 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Flybar Model 1200

You can fly! Co-developed by pro-skateboarder Andy Macdonald, the Flybar is a turbo-charged pogo stick for the fearless. You can jump up to five feet using only your body weight and leg strength. Flybar can support weight from 80 to 250 pounds; you adjust the thrusters based on weight, skill level, and courage.

$270 at Toys R Us

Kirtsy This | Posted 26 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Interactive U.S. Presidents

Get your kids interested in the electoral process, before some nasty older cousin has a chance to explain apathy. This interactive presidents game gives your little patriots the access to more than 10,000 quiz questions and answers. They’ll learn about all 43 U.S. presidents, the first ladies, and vice presidents. (Perhaps they’ll even learn to compare and contrast.) The toy has a quiz button, repeat button, help button, and answer buttons.

$20 at Amazon

(Requires two AA batteries.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 26 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Toro Tissue Ring

I hate, hate, hate setting out a cardboard tissue box with some awful abstract-tulip print. Who designs this crap? Do I need a windmill landscape on my tissue box? I don’t. Then again, decent tissue box covers (ones that aren’t made of shiny mauve plastic) are always too expensive to justify purchase. The Toro tissue ring is the design solution I’ve been looking for. You rip open that hideous cardboard box, remove the tissues, and set your ring on top. It’s weighted to let you pull tissues through one at a time. And it’s not ugly. Pick one up now, before they start etching daisies into the metal.

$18 at Follow Function

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Molten Chocolate Cake Mix

You may not know a bundt pan from a garden rake, but if you can add water and melted butter to a mix, you can make this knee-weakening dessert. It’s a bittersweet chocolate cake with warm melted fudge in the center. If your mouth isn’t watering, you don’t deserve any. In fifteen minutes you get a dessert that will impress the toughest mother-in-law. A sound gift for the baking impaired.

$24 at Williams Sonoma

(Makes about ten cupcake-sized cakes.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Leather Flower Gloves

ON SALE My first thought when I saw these is how sweet they’d be on a winter bride. They’d also look amazing with a white coat and earmuffs, or as an offset to your favorite bright sweater. The gloves are made of soft sheepskin leather with three-dimensional flowers and beaded accenting. The lining is a cashmere blend. They come in several colors, but white is the dearest. A refined, nostalgic treat for your wardrobe.

$54 at Ann Taylor

(Regularly $89)

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

The Hard Questions

The best engagement gift you’ll ever give. It’s a book of questions that helps couples find and fix the weak points in their relationship. It covers all the potentially explosive topics that many couples avoid until after marriage. Do we want five kids, or no kids? Do you want to live in a city, when I have my heart set on a ranch? Do you expect me to convert to your religion? Just how much debt do you have, anyway? If you’re thinking about getting married, or know someone who is, get a copy. Forewarned is forearmed.

$8 at Amazon

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

OPI: I’m Not Really a Waitress

TOKENS OF AFFECTION UNDER $15

This is my favorite OPI color. (It’s nothing like the color-sample swatch shown when you click through.) It goes on pretty much how it looks in the bottle. That is, it’s a rich, sparkly red. The exact color you’d like to see on your toenails when you pull your feet out of the boots and peel off your wool socks. Ten little rubies.

$7 at Drugstore.com

Kirtsy This | Posted 24 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Solio for iPod

Now you can take your music backcountry. The Solio is a rechargeable solar battery for your iPod or iPod mini. Just place it in sunlight, and get up to nine hours of charge. You can also plug it in to charge it, and then use it as an extra power source. You plug in a cable, press a button, and voila! You have the power. By purchasing additional cables, you can also use your Solio to charge a bunch of other gadgets. The solar panels are waterproof and weatherproof, so it’s great for hiking, or kayak camping. Because you can only listen to the birds twitter for so long. (via Gizmodo)

$100 at Everything iPod

(Price is approximate, converted from Euros.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 22 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Tipped Pique Open Polo

ON SALE This is polo comes in long or short sleeves and has a cowboy contrast pattern on the shoulders. I show it here in black and white because the lines are easier to see, but they also offer it in a deep red with caramel detail, which is a more subtle effect.

$45 at Liz Claiborne

(Regularly $63.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 22 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Barry the Bear Slippers

Cozy bear slippers for wee feet. They have anti-skid soles and fur-covered elastic heel straps to keep them in place. Available for baby bears 3 months through 3T.

$12 at Baby Style

(Product No Longer Available)

Kirtsy This | Posted 22 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Kundalini Bags

2006 COVET GUIDE

These hand embroidered and crafted handbags are exquisite. The artist, Kate Kudirka, is a friend of mine, and she learned to embroider as a child. Every stitch on every bag is created with a needle in hand, and I don’t know how the woman doesn’t go blind. Each bag is entirely unique in its craftsmanship and its design; Kate never makes a bag twice. You can purchase one of her available bags or have a personalized bag made for your wedding, graduation, or anniversary. And you’ll get 10 percent off a bag if you mention that you saw it on Mighty Goods. Because Kate sews each bag so meticulously, she doesn’t currently work with retailers, so you can only get them direct from her. So, so lovely.

$350 at Kundalini Bags

(Bag prices vary.)

Kirtsy This | Posted 19 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Tinkle Eyebrow Razor

ON SALE You can spend three hours plucking all the peach fuzz around your eyebrows, on your upper lip, on your neck; or you can use one of these petite dry-razors to neaten things up. While you’re at it, take a quick swipe at your furry toes before you go out in open-toed shoes.

$4 at Neo Beauty

(regularly $6)

Kirtsy This | Posted 19 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

A Christmas Story: 40” Leg Lamp

Ha! Lance sent me this suggestion, and as he says, “It’s indescribably beautiful.” That’s right folks, an exact replica of the major-award lamp from A Christmas Story. Not that you have to be a fan of the movie to admire a life-sized leg lamp that lights up in two places: the bulb, and the leg itself. Whoa, mama.

$50 at Amazon

Kirtsy This | Posted 19 Nov, 2004 in November 2004 by Margaret Mason

Pompom Cardigan

ON SALE This pompom cardigan would be sweet with pair of wide-leg ivory trousers. It’s blue angora with cream edging and poms, and a hook-eye closure fastens the neck. The inner shell is sold separately, but it’s also on sale ($30).

$40 at Anthropologie

(regularly $88)